bromochloroacetic-acid and Folliculitis

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a common hair disorder characterized by a pustular foreign body inflammatory reaction that is induced by ingrown hairs of the facial and submental (barbea) regions after regular shaving. It occurs predominantly in black males, while it is rather rare and usually far less severe in Caucasian males. Black individuals have a higher propensity of developing PFB due to their genetic predisposition for curly hair which inherently possesses a much higher risk of growing back into the skin than straight or wavy hair. The PFB process is, however, not gender dependent nor restricted to the face, but can occur in any skin region once regular shaving, plucking, or other traumatic means of hair removal are instituted. Through a family study and a large-scale investigation of randomly sampled PFB-affected and -unaffected individuals, this study demonstrates that an unusual single-nucleotide polymorphism, which gives rise to a disruptive Ala12Thr substitution in the 1A alpha-helical segment of the companion layer-specific keratin K6hf of the hair follicle, is partially responsible for the phenotypic expression and represents an additional genetic risk factor for PFB.

Topics: Cells, Cultured; Facial Dermatoses; Folliculitis; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Keratins; Male; Mutation; Polymorphism, Genetic; Protein Structure, Secondary; Risk Factors

Topics: Facial Dermatoses; Folliculitis; Humans; Keratins; Mutation; Polymorphism, Genetic

An 83-year-old patient presented herself with a ten-year history of keratotic papules on her trunk. A biopsy of this process revealed granular parakeratosis confined to the infundibulum of a follicle. Exclusive follicular involvement in granular parakeratosis has not been previously described.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chronic Disease; Female; Folliculitis; Hair Follicle; Humans; Keratins; Parakeratosis

Several clinical syndromes are characterized by ectodermal dysplasia (ED) in association with clefting of the lip and/or palate. In these syndromes, alopecia is primarily due to abnormalities of the hair shaft associated with increased hair fragility. Scalp dermatitis is yet another peculiar finding, primarily seen in the ankyloblepharon-ED-clefting (AEC) syndrome. We report on a 16-year-old patient with ectrodactyly-ED-clefting (EEC) syndrome, who exhibited a scarring alopecia due to deep folliculitis. On scanning electron microscopy, irregular torsion and longitudinal grooving of the hair shaft (pili torti et canaliculi) were observed. Quantitative determinations of the elastic and viscous parameters of hair demonstrated a normal viscosity but a significantly reduced hair elasticity, indicating either an abnormal composition or a disordered arrangement of microfibrils within the apparently normal keratin matrix. In contrast to the erosive scalp dermatitis of early onset in the AEC syndrome, alopecia in this case of EEC syndrome demonstrated follicular scarring with onset during puberty. We question a possible role of the anatomical hair abnormality in the pathogenesis of chronic deep folliculitis in this and clinically related syndromes.

Topics: Adolescent; Alopecia; Biophysical Phenomena; Biophysics; Cicatrix; Cleft Lip; Cleft Palate; Dermatomycoses; Ectodermal Dysplasia; Elasticity; Fingers; Folliculitis; Hair; Humans; Keratins; Malassezia; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Puberty; Scalp Dermatoses; Staphylococcal Skin Infections; Syndrome; Viscosity

Two cases of cutaneous herpesvirus infection are described that clinically masqueraded as pseudolymphoma. Light microscopy demonstrated typical viral changes involving pilosebaceous complexes with sparing of the surface epithelium. Dermal changes consisted of a dense perivascular and perifollicular inflammatory infiltrate. Multinucleated lymphoid cells were found in the dermis in one case and viral inclusions in fibroblasts were present in the other case. Immunoperoxidase stains with antisera to herpes simplex virus types I and II were positive in one case and negative in the other case. Ultrastructural examination demonstrated viral particles consistent with herpesvirus in both cases. Recognition of typical histologicl features of herpesvirus folliculitis will lead to an accurate diagnosis in these types of clinically unsuspected cases.

Topics: Adult; Folliculitis; Herpesviridae; Herpesviridae Infections; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Lymphoma; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Necrosis; Skin Neoplasms

Topics: Child, Preschool; Female; Folliculitis; Hair; Humans; Keratins; Skin

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biopsy; Female; Folliculitis; Hair; Humans; Keratins; Male; Recurrence; Sebaceous Glands; Sex Factors; Time Factors

Topics: Adolescent; Biopsy; Connective Tissue; Elastic Tissue; Facial Dermatoses; Female; Folliculitis; Humans; Keratins; Lip Diseases; Sebaceous Glands; Skin

Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Cysts; Edema; Folliculitis; Hair; Humans; Hyperplasia; Keratins; Male; Rupture; Sebaceous Glands; Skin