Summary: Tufted hair folliculitis (THF)is a relapsing and usually progressive folliculitis of the scalp that resolves with irregular areas of scarring alopecia within which numerous hair tufts emerge from dilated follicular openings surrounded by an inflammatory infiltrate. It occurs with the ratio of 2.7 women to 1 man, generally between the ages of 19 and 68. Hypomelanosis of Ito is a sporadic multisystemic neurocutaneous disease that is occasionally inherited in a dominant manner.The first definitive signs are macular hypopigmented skin lesions which appear within 2 years after birth in 90% of patients. Most patients show neurological involvement
Aim: we discribe A 13-year-old boy of Indian origin who presented with a 5-year history of an itching, inflamed area on the vertex. Scalp examination revealed a single 1.2 x 2 cm erythematic plaque with scarring alopecia associated with some perifollicular crusting and five to eight tufts of hair on the parietal and coronal scalp. Microbiology swab revealed Staphylococcus aureus. Dermatopathology confirmed the presence of tufted hairs, as well as rather superficial infiltrates and plasma cells. The diagnosis of tufted hair folliculitis was made, which is regarded as a low-grade variant of Quinquaud’s decalvans folliculitis. We suggested a surgical excision of involved area or a course of systemic antibiotics, topical clindamycine solution and iodine shampoo.
Results: In our case of THF in a child with Hypomelanosis of Ito, we achieved rapid remission with topical desinfectant and clindamycine solution.
Conclusion: In the more severe cases of THF in adults, a more chronic course must be expected and good results have been reported after surgical excision of the involved areas, while treatment with oral antibiotics have resulted in temporary cure at best.