Dermoscopy of folliculotropic mycosis fungoides of the scalp: a pediatric case report with comparative trichoscopic analysis

Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides (FMF) is an uncommon variant of mycosis fungoides (MF) that primarily affects hair follicles and is often misdiagnosed due to its similarity with other scalp conditions. The median age at diagnosis is 60 years, while it is rare in childhood and adolescence. This case presents a 10-year-old boy with alopecic, indurated plaques on the scalp, unresponsive to antifungal therapy. Dermoscopy revealed key features, including perifollicular hyperkeratosis, broken hairs, irregularly distributed white halos, and features resembling inflammatory alopecias. Histopathology confirmed the FMF diagnosis. This case highlights the helpfulness of dermoscopy in FMF differential diagnosis, even in a rare pediatric case. It underscores the need for further studies to define dermoscopic aspects of FMF, ensuring more timely and effective treatment.