Follicular mucinosis responding to isotretinoin treatment

Dermatological indications for the use of isotretinoin beyond acne

While the use of isotretinoin has revolutionized the treatment of acne vulgaris, isotretinoin is increasingly recognized as a useful therapeutic option for many other cutaneous conditions. We review the evidence underlying the use of isotretinoin for a variety of dermatological indications including hidradenitis suppurativa, sebaceous gland pathology, rosacea, scarring alopecia, cosmetic dermatology, and non-melanoma skin cancer prophylaxis amongst other uses, and thus consider alternative uses within dermatology practice. The studies found benefit of isotretinoin, however most trials lacked statistical power and in many cases the use was limited to case series. Isotretinoin, if used within the correct cohort with appropriate pretreatment counseling regarding side-effects, is a well-tolerated medication with potential as either an adjunctive treatment or a second-line agent in those recalcitrant cases unresponsive to first-line therapy.

Primary cicatricial alopecia: Other lymphocytic primary cicatricial alopecias and neutrophilic and mixed primary cicatricial alopecias

Primary cicatricial alopecias can be frustrating for both patients and physicians. Proper diagnosis guides more successful management of these challenging conditions. Part II will cover the remaining lymphocytic primary cicatricial alopecias, which include pseudopelade of Brocq, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, alopecia mucinosa, and keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans. It will also discuss the neutrophilic and mixed primary cicatricial alopecias, namely folliculitis decalvans, dissecting cellulitis, folliculitis keloidalis, folliculitis (acne) necrotica, and erosive pustular dermatosis.

Follicular mucinosis: clinical, histologic, and molecular remission with minocycline

Follicular mucinosis is an uncommon inflammatory disorder characterized histologically by mucin accumulation in the follicular epithelium. The condition is generally divided into primary and secondary forms, the latter being frequently associated with mycosis fungoides. Lesional skin T-cell clonality has been documented in some patients with follicular mucinosis, even those with no histologic evidence of cutaneous lymphoma. In this report, we describe a patient with clonal idiopathic primary follicular mucinosis who had complete clinical, histologic, and molecular remission with minocycline therapy.

Management of primary cicatricial alopecias: options for treatment

Primary cicatricial alopecias (PCAs) are a poorly understood group of disorders that result in permanent hair loss. Clinically, they are characterized not only by permanent loss of hair shafts but also of visible follicular ostia along with other visible changes in skin surface morphology, while their histopathological hallmark usually (although not always) is the replacement of follicular structures with scar-like fibrous tissue. As hair follicle neogenesis in adult human scalp skin is not yet a readily available treatment option for patients with cicatricial alopecias, the aim of treatment, currently, remains to reduce symptoms and to slow or stop PCA progression, namely the scarring process. Early treatment is the key to minimizing the extent of permanent alopecia. However, inconsistent terminology, poorly defined clinical end-points and a lack of good quality clinical trials have long made management of these conditions very challenging. As one important step towards improving the management of this under-investigated and under-serviced group of dermatoses, the current review presents evidence-based guidance for treatment, with identification of the strength of evidence, and a brief overview of clinical features of each condition. Wherever only insufficient evidence-based advice on PCA management can be given at present, this is indicated so as to highlight important gaps in our clinical knowledge that call for concerted efforts to close these in the near future.

Diagnosis and management of primary cicatricial alopecia: part I

In this 2-part article, the authors review the primary cicatricial alopecias. Primary cicatricial alopecia can be defined as predominantly lymphocytic, neutrophilic, or mixed based on the nature of the follicular infiltrate that is present around affected hair follicles. Lymphocytic primary cicatricial alopecias include chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (discoid lupus erythematosus), lichen planopilaris, classic pseudopelade of Brocq, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, alopecia mucinosa, and keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans. In this first part, the authors summarize the classification, epidemiology, diagnostic approach, and patient management of lymphocytic cicatricial alopecias. In part II, the authors will focus on neutrophilic cicatricial alopecias and mixed cicatricial alopecias.