Erosive pustular dermatosis in a patient with lichen planopilaris treated with aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy

• Published in: Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy 2021-03, Vol.33, p.102207-102207, Article 102207
• Main Authors: Light, Jeremy G., Bomar, Leonora, McMichael, Amy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aminolevulinic acid; Aminolevulinic Acid - therapeutic use; Erosive pustular dermatosis; Humans; Lichen planopilaris; Lichen Planus - complications; Lichen Planus - drug therapy; Photochemotherapy - methods; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; Scalp; Scalp Dermatoses - complications; Scalp Dermatoses - drug therapy; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous - complications; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous - drug therapy
• ISSN: 1572-1000; 1873-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102207

•EPDS was successfully treated with PDT, and there are very few reports of this.•This is the first report of EPDS in the setting of alopecia due to lichen planopilaris.•EPDS is difficult to treat and PDT may be a viable treatment option for some patients. Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp (EPDS) is a chronic inflammatory condition with an unclear etiology that typically occurs on sun-damaged skin of older individuals. Clinically it is characterized by sterile pustules, erosions, and crusting that can lead to scarring alopecia and skin atrophy (Yang et al., 2016; Broussard et al., 2012; Cunha et al., 2019). EPDS is a therapeutic challenge and often resistant to numerous treatments. Herein, we describe a case of erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp in a patient with lichen planopilaris successfully treated with curettage followed by aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy.