Successful treatment of infundibulofolliculitis with topical tretinoin. Report of a case

Abstract

First described in 1968 by Hitch and Lund. Disseminated and Recurrent infundibulofolliculitis (DRIF) is an uncommon eruption characterized by recurrent, pruritic follicular papules commonly seen on the trunk and proximal extremities. Rarely limited to the neck. It is much more common in black population but has also been reported in other ethnicities including Caucasians. Its etiology has constantly been debated with a few authors describing it as a variant of atopic dermatitis while others have refuted the same as a family history of atopy is not present. Various others have classified DRIF as variants of follicular eczema, along with lichen spinulosus and juxtaclavicular beaded lines. Its treatment also varies with different authors claiming response to steroids, isotretinoin, UVA therapy, keratolytics and tetracyclines. We describe a case of localized infundibulofolliculitis of the neck diagnosed in a 21 year old female who was successfully treated with a course of topical tretinoin 0.025%. The presenting history, clinical findings, biopsy results and available literature are reviewed.

Keywords

• nfundibulofolliculitis
• neck
• Caucasians
• female