Pressure Alopecia in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report

Pressure alopecia (PA) is a type of secondary alopecia that predominantly affects adults, with only a few pediatric cases reported. We present the case of a four-year-old pediatric patient who developed an alopecic patch after a two-week stay in the intensive care unit and ultimately showed signs of scarring alopecia despite early treatment. Trichoscopy revealed comedone-like dots, which supported this diagnosis. Two months after treatment with steroids and zinc pyrithione shampoo, the patient showed signs of cicatricial alopecia. Due to the scarcity of reported cases, diagnosis can be challenging and requires a high index of suspicion, particularly in patients with a history of prolonged immobilization associated with hospitalization or surgery. Trichoscopy can assist in distinguishing pressure alopecia from more common differential diagnoses in this age group. Although spontaneous recovery is often observed, early detection is essential for preventing permanent alopecia.