Occipital Fibrosing Alopecia in a Young Male: A Case Report

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a primary lymphocytic cicatricial alopecia with 3 recognized clinical variants. Lately, LPP clinical spectrum has expanded with new and overlapping clinical variants. First considered as a subtype of LPP affecting postmenopausal women, the increasing worldwide incidence of FFA including atypical lesions in young female and male suggests a different pathomechanism for this disease. Although LPP-spectrum disorders may share similar histopathological findings, clinical features and prognosis are different. <b><i>Case Report:</i></b> A 26-year-old Caucasian male presented with occipital scarring alopecia and pruritus for the last 6 months. The patient had been treated for an associated androgenetic alopecia and superficial recurrent scalp folliculitis over the vertex scalp for the last 5 years. Trichoscopy of the occipital scalp showed mild diffuse erythema, moderate peripilar scaling, and absence of follicular openings, suggestive of a scarring process. The patient underwent an occipital scalp biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis of a LPP-spectrum disorder. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Both LPP and FFA mostly affect the anterior-mid scalp of females. However, recent reports on FFA also in premenopausal women and men should make physicians aware of atypical features of this disease and unusual clinical presentation.