Dissecting cellulitis is an uncommon disease characterized by pustular nodules, sinus tract formation and resultant cicatricial alopecia. We present a rare case of dissecting cellulitis in a 15-year-old Filipino girl, with a 1-year history of painful nodules with purulent discharge and hair loss on the scalp. A 6mm skin punch biopsy on the vertex of the scalp showed infundibular plugs of corneocytes in the stratum corneum. Histology of the dermis showed multiple dense perifollicular, perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, foamy histiocytes with multinucleated giant cells and sinus tract formation. In the lower reticular dermis, sclerosis, and fibrosis of collagen fibers were traced. The patient was treated with low dose oral isotretinoin (0.5mkd) for 2 months with remarkable improvement of the clinical condition. She was advised regular follow up consultations to monitor her progress.

Human ; Female ; Adolescent ; Alopecia ; Biopsy ; Cellulitis ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Follow-up Studies ; Giant Cells ; Histiocytes ; Isotretinoin ; Neutrophils ; Plasma Cells ; Referral And Consultation ; Scalp ; Sclerosis ; Skin