Lipedematous alopecia: clinical and histological analysis of the first male Chinese

BACKGROUND: Lipedematous alopecia (LA) is a rare disorder clinically characterized by a thick boggy scalp and varying severity of hair loss, which primarily occurs in black female adults. In this study, we reported one male adult Chinese diagnosed with lipedematous alopecia for the first time. CASE PRESENTATION: A Chinese male, aged 20 years old, admitted to Shandong Provincial Hospital for Skin Diseases was diagnosed with LA. Clinical, histological and imaging data were collected and analyzed. Literature review was performed. RESULTS: Skin biopsy and pathological examination revealed the signs of increased subcutaneous adipose tissue, slight perivascular mononuclear infiltration into superficial dermis, adipocyte disruption and mucin deposition. CT scan demonstrated diffuse thickening of subcutaneous tissue in the occipital region. The symptoms were not significantly alleviated after 6-month combined therapy of prednisone and acupuncture. CONCLUSIONS: We reported one male Chinese of LA, who was the first case reported in China. Clinical and pathological findings of this case deepened the understanding of LA.