Tufted hair folliculitis associated with pemphigus vulgaris

Tufted hair folliculitis (THF) is a rare disease which is characterized by the emergence of multiple hairs from widely dilated follicular orifices surrounded by an inflammatory infiltrate resulting in scarring alopecia. The pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Although colonization with Staphylococcus aureus could not always be detected and systemic treatment with antibiotics alone is not sufficient, this microorganism is considered to play an important role. Around 30 patients with THF have been reported since the first publication. We present a patient with pemphigus vulgaris who developed THF. To our knowledge, this is the fourth case with an association of these two entities. Amongst other causing mechanisms, the autoimmune reaction may play an important role for the development of THF.