Successful treatment of lichen spinulosus with topical tacalcitol cream

A Study of Clinical, Dermoscopic and Histopathological Correlation in Follicular Keratotic Diseases: Preliminary Observations in 30 Cases

Context:

Follicular keratotic disorder is an abnormal keratinization affecting the follicular orifices and clinically characterized by hyperkeratotic follicular papules affecting various sites. Dermoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic tool and differentiates closely resembling diseases as well as possibly prevents need for an invasive biopsy.

Aim:

This study was aimed to find the correlation between clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological findings in follicular keratotic diseases and to establish the dermoscopic criteria in the diagnosis of primary follicular keratotic diseases.

Materials and Methods:

This was a hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study of 30 consecutive patients clinically diagnosed with follicular keratotic diseases, irrespective of age and duration of the disease.

Results:

The study consisted of 30 patients with a mean age of 19.57 ± 9.69 years. The most common primary follicular keratotic disease observed was phrynoderma and secondary follicular keratotic disease was follicular lichen planus (lichen planopilaris). The predominant dermoscopic finding among all the follicular keratotic diseases was perifollicular scaling 29 (96.7%) followed by keratotic plug 28 (93.3%). The most common histopathological feature was dilated follicular infundibulum 22 (73.3%) followed by follicular plug 15 (50%) and dermal perivascular infiltration 22 (73.3%). The clinical and dermoscopic features showed a significant statistical association with the histopathological findings.

Conclusion:

Dermoscopy is a simple, non-invasive diagnostic tool that helps in differentiating and diagnosing the closely resembling follicular keratotic diseases.

An Uncommon Case of Lichen Spinulosus in an Adult Patient Clinically Mmimicking Folliculotropic Mycosis Fungoides

Lichen spinulosus (LS) is an uncommon skin condition mostly in children and adolescents but uncommon in adults. It presents as a group of hypopigmented or skin-colored follicular papules and keratotic spines with a sandpaper-like appearance. There is a lymphohistiocytic infiltrate in the dermis centered around hair follicles. We present a rare case of LS in a 52-year-old woman with a rough, bumpy, itchy rash affecting the trunk and extremities. Her rash consisted of clusters of hyperkeratotic follicular-based spiny papules. Histologic sections demonstrated several dilated hair follicles filled with keratotic plugs surrounded by a dense perifollicular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate, particularly at the level of the infundibula, that extended into the follicular epithelium.

Off-label uses of topical vitamin D in dermatology: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Topical vitamin D is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of psoriasis but is also used off-label in the treatment of a variety of cutaneous diseases despite a lack of evidence-based guidelines.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to provide evidence-based clinical guidelines for the off-label use of topical vitamin D in the treatment of dermatologic disease.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted via the MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases for off-label uses of topical vitamin D analogues in the treatment of dermatologic disease other than psoriasis. The data were synthesized, and evidence-based recommendations were rendered according to the highest level of evidence available.

RESULTS

A total of 165 articles met the inclusion criteria. A moderate to strong recommendation was given for the use of topical vitamin D in combination with corticosteroids and phototherapy in vitiligo and as monotherapy for various ichthyoses, morphea, pityriasis alba, prurigo nodularis, and polymorphous light eruption. There is evidence showing that topical vitamin D is ineffective in the treatment of actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, lichen planus, seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia areata, chemotherapy-induced alopecia, and hypertrophic scars.

CONCLUSION

Topical vitamin D analogues have an important role in the off-label treatment of dermatologic disease, but higher quality studies are still required.