Disseminated and Recurrent Infundibular Folliculitis (D.R.I.F.): Report of a Case Successfully Treated with Isotretinoin

Abstract

Disseminated and recurrent infundibular folliculitis, henceforth referred to as D.R.I.F., is a very rare, puritic, follicular, benign disease of unknown etiology seen mostly in black males. It is often self-limited and usually unresponsive to local or systemic treatment. However, vitamin A, either alone or combined with vitamin E, is occasionally effective. We report a case of a patient with D.R.I.F. treated successfully with isotretinoin.

Disseminate and Recurrent Infundibulofolliculitis: An Under-Recognized Yet Treatable Entity

“…A variety of treatments have been used and have demonstrated success at alleviating DRIF symptoms (Table 1). [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]…”

“…Oral vitamin A and isotretinoin can be efficacious due to their promotion of decreased follicular turnover and slower keratinization. 2,6,8 A combination of oral vitamins A and E appears to have beneficial outcomes as well. However, oral retinoids are often limited by their systemic side effects and resultant laboratory abnormalities.…”

Disseminated and recurrent infundibulofolliculitis in children in Mexico

“…Clinically eczema can be papular but most commonly shows extensive patches and plaques in different stages of evolution, which were not noticed clinically in the patients described. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Keratosis pilaris also resembles DRIF clinically. However, the papules in keratosis pilaris are grouped in characteristic locations and are not symptomatic.…”

“…Variable success has been reported with topical and oral steroids, topical isotretinoin 0.025%, UVA therapy plus psoralen (PUVA), keratolytics, antihistamines, topical retinoid acid, and tetracycline. Other treatment modalities used have been oral vitamin A alone or in combination with vitamin E. 1,3,4,10,11 In summary, we have described three pediatric patients from the tropical areas of Mexico with DRIF and compared our cases to others from the literature. We described also the dermoscopic findings in DRIF.…”

Infundíbulo-Foliculite Disseminada e Recorrente em Idade Pediátrica

“…A resposta à terapêutica tópica com corticosteróides e emolientes é pouco significativa, havendo casos de sucesso terapêutico com PUVA, isotretinoína oral ou isotretinoína tópica. 2,3,[10][11][12] No caso descrito, a sintomatologia escassa e a ponderação risco-benefício levou a que se mantivesse apenas o emoliente, verificando-se regressão espontânea quase total da dermatose no período de seguimento.…”