[Tufted folliculitis of the scalp]

Tufted hair folliculitis is a localized scarring bacterial folliculitis due to Staphylococcus aureus. We present two cases.

Both patients were in their thirties. The first had had an inflammatory sclerous lesion of the vertex for three years, and the second an alopecial scarring lesion. Clinically there were tufts of hair within or around the lesions. Staphylococcus aureus was found in biopsy samples which showed hairs or composed follicles. Prolonged treatment with oral antibiotics led to progressive limitation of the lesions.

Tufted hair folliculitis is a characteristic folliculitis of the scalp showing scar formation and the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. The review of the literature raises the question of the role of local immunity and the nature of the hair tufts: primary anomaly or secondary to Staphylococcus infection? The therapeutic attitude is not well defined but prolonged treatment with oral antibiotics can stabilize the lesions.