Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp: a successful treatment with photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp (EPDS) is a rare inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology that usually occurs in the elderly. It is characterized by sterile pustules, chronic crusted erosions, cicatricial alopecia, and skin atrophy. The histopathology is nonspecific, and its pathophysiology remains undetermined, with various types of local trauma possibly acting as the triggering factor. We describe a case of EPDS in a 75-year-old female in whom there was a marked response to photodynamic therapy with methyl 5-aminolaevulinic acid.