Tyler A. Moss, DO; Thomas M. Alopecia with perifollicular Beachkofsky, MD; Samuel F. Almquist, MD; Oliver J. Wisco, DO; papules and pustules Michael R. Murchland, MD A.T. Still University, Our 23-year-old patient thought his hair loss was Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, probably “genetic.” But that didn’t explain the painful Kirksville, Mo (Dr. Moss); Kunsan AB, Republic of pustules. Korea (Dr. Beachkofsky); Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Tex (Drs. Almquist, Wisco, and Murchland) A 23-year-old African American man Physical examination revealed multiple sought care at our medical center because perifollicular papules and pustules on the
[email protected] he had been losing hair over the vertex of his vertex of his scalp with interspersed patches DEPARTMENT EDITOR scalp for the past several years. He indicated of alopecia (FIGURE 1). Th ere were no lesions Richard P. Usatine, MD that his father had early-onset male patterned elsewhere on his body and his past medical University of Texas Health alopecia. As a result, he considered his hair history was otherwise unremarkable. Science Center at San Antonio loss “genetic.” However, he described waxing and waning fl ares of painful pustules associ- ● The authors reported no WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS? potential confl ict of interest ated with occasional spontaneous bleeding relevant to this article. and discharge of purulent material that oc- ● HOW WOULD YOU MANAGE curred in the same area as the hair loss. THIS PATIENT? FIGURE 1 Alopecia with a painful twist A B PHOTOS COURTESY OF: OLIVER J. WISCO, DO PHOTOS COURTESY This 23-year-old patient said that he had spontaneous bleeding and discharge of purulent material in the area of his hair loss.