title: Retrospective Review of Folliculitis Decalvans in 23 Patients with Course and Treatment Analysis of Long-standing Cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, there is no standard treatment of folliculitis decalvans (FD), a rare type of cicatricial alopecia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The records of 23 patients with FD (1998-2012) were retrospectively analyzed, with added data review on the course and treatment of long-standing cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial management consisted mostly of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide, clobetasol lotion, and either cephalexin, minocycline, doxycycline, or tetracycline. Alternatives consisted of rifampicin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, and isotretinoin. Remission was achieved in weeks to months in more than half of the cases, with low occurrence of relapse. The poor responders had a protracted course of temporary improvement and multiple relapses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients showed improvement and subsequent remission with oral antibiotics. In some patients, it took years of slow taper before the antibiotic could be discontinued. Only a few patients had recalcitrant disease, with minimal response to their initial and alternative medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCDepartment of Dermatology, New York University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: M J Kristine
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bunagan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCDepartment of Dermatology, New York University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Nusrat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Banka
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCDepartment of Dermatology, New York University, New York, NY jerry.shapiro@vch.com.
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001955:British Columbia; D002648:Child; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005499:Folliculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents