Impact of Folliculitis Decalvans on Quality of Life and Subjective Perception of Disease

Abstract

Folliculitis decalvans (FD) is a primary neutrophilic scarring alopecia characterized by perifollicular papules, crusts, and pustules frequently located on the vertex. FD may affect young men and women. Since it may lead to hair loss, it can have a negative impact on patients' quality of life. Nevertheless, studies have focused on clinical, prognostic, and therapeutic aspects without considering the psychological impact of FD. In our study, we found that FD patients experienced a considerable impact on their quality of life. Interestingly, almost half of the patients considered that their alopecia was related to a poor medical care in their past. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the impact of FD on patients' quality of life, and it highlights the importance of psychological support for these patients.

Folliculitis Decalvans Has a Heterogeneous Microbiological Signature and Impaired Immunological Response

“…Folliculitis decalvans (FD) is a rare primary neutrophilic scarring alopecia [1][2][3] with a variable therapeutic response associated with a negative impact on patients' quality of life [4]. The most common clinical presentation is the onset of a slowly growing painful alopecic plaque on the vertex of a young male.…”

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy Applied to Folliculitis Decalvans: Preliminary Results of a Multicenter Study

“…Clinically, FD is characterized by crops of follicular pustules, hemorrhagic crusts, and tufted hairs (polytrichia), mainly in the vertex and occipital area, evolving to cicatricial alopecic patches on the scalp over time, with a typically chronic relapsing course [3]. Since hair loss alters patients' appearance, this disease impairs their psychoemotional wellness and quality of life, even in mild to moderate clinical forms [4].…”

Therapy‐refractory folliculitis decalvans treated with certolizumab pegol

“…We included three phase 3 trials (i.e., Measure Up 1, Measure Up 2, and AD Up) from two publications. 1,2 All the included trials were studies with low risk of bias (Fig. 1a).…”

“…The disease can be mutilating, painful, and has been reported to significantly affect the patients' quality of life. 1 Treatment of folliculitis decalvans is still a challenge. Here, we report on a patient with therapy-recalcitrant folliculitis decalvans who was treated with certolizumab pegol.…”

“…Indeed, our observation is only a case report, and A patch of nonscarring alopecia on the vertex of a 16year-old male: a case report and a review of the literature Dear Editor, Lipedematous alopecia/scalp (LA/LS) is characterized by increased thickness of the subcutaneous scalp tissue, with or without alopecia. This term was used for the first time by Coskey et al 1 to describe this condition in black women. Our goal is to describe the clinical and histopathological features of this poorly defined disease and to assess the most effective reported treatment.…”