Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of folliculitis decalvans

Abstract

Folliculitis decalvans is a chronic form of deep folliculitis that occurs on the scalp as patches of scarring alopecia at the expanding margins of which are follicular pustules. Treatment of folliculitis decalvans is extremely difficult with a resultant poor prognosis. Photodynamic therapy has been reported to be effective in disorders as acne or folliculitis. We report one patient with folliculitis decalvans who was successfully treated with photodynamic therapy.

Folliculitis decalvans: a multicentre review of 82 patients

“…The goal of any therapy is the arrest of inflammation and further hair loss. Case reports have described the use of multiple therapeutic agents such as systemic antibiotics and antifungals, dapsone, photodynamic therapy or topical tacrolimus . Recently, isolated cases responding to adalimumab, infliximab or Nd‐YAG laser have been published.…”

Photodynamic Therapy and Skin Appendage Disorders: A Review

“…PDT, especially MAL-PDT, has also been proposed for FD since it presents immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and bactericidal activity due to its phototoxic effects, preventing the proliferation of S. aureus apart from the well-known possible accumulation of porphyrins in the pilosebaceous unit [96] . However, studies on this topic are not so numerous [97][98][99] ( Table 5 ). The most interesting data came from Miguel-Gomez et al [98] , who performed a protocol of 4 sessions of MAL-PDT at 4-week intervals in 10 FD patients with clinical improvement in 90% of cases.…”

Oral isotretinoin as the most effective treatment in folliculitis decalvans: a retrospective comparison of different treatment regimens in 28 patients

“…Several anti‐inflammatory or anti‐infective treatments have been published. In selected cases topical or intralesionally applied steroids, topical treatment with tacrolimus ointment, photodynamic therapy, and hair removal by shaving or ND:YAG laser have been described to be successful. Several different systemic treatments such as the combination of zinc sulphate and oral and local fusidic acid, tyrosine, dapsone, infliximab, minocycline, rifampicin and clarithromycin alone or combined with acitretin, rifampicin with or without topical mupirocin, the combination of isotretinoin, clindamycin and prednisolone, and in particular the combination of rifampicin and clindamycin have been reported to be efficient in some cases.…”