Childhood-Onset Keratosis Lichenoides Chronica Accompanied by Severe Hair Loss.

A 37-year-old woman attended the dermatology outpatient clinic because of recent hair loss from the eyebrows and axillae. Her past medical history revealed mild generalized erythema and hyperpigmented papules and plaques since childhood. On dermatologic examination, there were flat-topped, purple to brown hyperkeratotic lichenoid papules and linear plaques on the elbows, trunk, and buttocks, some of which coalesced into hyperpigmented reticular plaques on the axillae, neck, and groin. Mild erythema was noted. There was thinning and loss of hair of the eyebrows; severe loss of hair was noted in the axillae and genital regions (Figure 1). One of the lichenoid papules was biopsied. The specimen showed histopathologic findings of focal parakeratosis, irregular acanthosis, an increased granular layer, and focal vacuolar degeneration of the basal layer. Necrotic keratinocytes were also observed. Hyalinization and abundant melanin in the papillary dermis and marked congestion of blood vessels were noted (Figure 2). Clinicopathologic correlation of the case was consistent with keratosis lichenoides chronica (KLC).