A case of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus on the scalp

Abstract

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is a rare, chronic, inflammatory disease typically localized in the genital area. Frequently, it may also develop in extragenital areas, however, scalp involvement has rarely been reported. We describe a patient who developed a well-defined whitish, focally erythematous, atrophic plaque on the scalp with increasing hair loss over a period of 6 years. Histological examination revealed epidermal atrophy, vacuolar degeneration of the basal layer, homogenization of collagen bundles in the papillary dermis and lichenoid mononuclear cell infiltration in the reticular dermis, compatible with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus.