Pustular ulcerative dermatosis of the scalp

Six young African patients are described with erosive pustular scalp lesions leading to extensive ulceration. No bacterial or fungal cause was found. Biopsies showed non-specific changes of atrophy with subacute or chronic inflammation. Four patients were malnourished and anaemic and three were infested with hookworm. The condition did not respond to antibiotics. Healing was obtained in one patient with systemic steroids. The relationship of this disorder to erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp and to pyoderma gangrenosum of atypical distribution is discussed.