Itchy scalp with scale
The patient had a history of treatment for head lice, but a dermatoscopic exam revealed that lice weren’t to blame for his itchy scalp.
An 11-year-old boy sought care at a small village’s health center in Panama for scalp itching and subtle hair loss. He was seen by a family physician (RU) and a team of medical students who were there as part of a humanitarian trip. The patient denied any hair pulling. He had a history of treatment for head lice.
Our physical examination revealed mild alopecia and scaling on the scalp (FIGURE 1), but what we saw through the dermatoscope (FIGURE 2) made the diagnosis clear.
WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS?
HOW WOULD YOU TREAT THIS PATIENT?
