Folliculitis decalvans is characterized by a persistent, abnormal subepidermal microbiota.

Folliculitis decalvans (FD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology. Although Staphylococcus aureus, frequently found on lesional skin, is thought to play a causal role, the importance of its involvement remains controversial. To examine the role of S aureus, we compared superficial and subepidermal microbiota in 20 FD patients who had S aureus on lesional skin and in 20 healthy controls using culture techniques and genomic identification, before and after an anti-staphylococcal treatment; we also screened for S aureus virulence factors.

Epidermal psoriasiform hyperplasia, an unrecognized sign of folliculitis decalvans: A histological study of 26 patients.

Background: Follicular hyperkeratosis along with hyperplasia of the follicular and interfollicular epithelia are major histopathological characteristics of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The presence of an occasional thickening of lesional skin in some folliculitis decalvans (FD) patients and histological similarities between FD and HS led us to look for epidermal hyperplasia and follicular hyperkeratosis in FD patients.

Patients And Method: We performed a retrospective histological analysis of 26 patients with FD.

First evidence of bacterial biofilms in the anaerobe part of scalp hair follicles: a pilot comparative study in folliculitis decalvans.

Background: The cause of folliculitis decalvans (FD) remains unknown. We hypothesized that a bacterial biofilm could be involved in its pathogenesis.

Objective: To assess the presence or not of a bacterial biofilm in the hair roots of the scalp in FD.

[Postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia: 20 cases].

Introduction: Postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia is a scarring alopecia that has been recently described by Kossard in 1994 and rarely reported in the literature.

Observations: We have conducted a retrospective clinical and histological study of a series of 20 cases of postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia. The results, in agreement with those in the literature, revealed the stereotyped nature of this entity.

[Intravenous pulse methylprednisolone therapy for severe alopecia areata: an open study of 66 patients].

Introduction: Treatment of alopecia areata is a difficult challenge. Some European publications have shown encouraging results with high dose pulse corticosteroid therapy in extensive plurifocal alopecia areata. We undertook a prospective open study between January 2000 and December 2001 using repeated pulse each month, with the aim of identifying the effects of this repetition and underlining the best indications.