Alopecia mucinosa, also known as follicular mucinosis, is a rare condition characterized by follicular papules and indurated plaques leading to nonscarring alopecia. Although lesions can occur anywhere on the body, the most common sites are the face, neck, and scalp. The distinct histologic changes are an accumulation of mucinous material of the pilosebaceous unit, which incites an inflammatory response and follicular damage.

The 3 clinical variants of the disease consist of the following: a primary acute disorder of young people, usually involving the face and scalp; a primary chronic disorder of older people, which can be generalized in distribution; and a secondary disorder associated with benign inflammatory conditions or malignant disease (lymphoma), also usually seen in older people. In this latter category, folliculotropic mycosis fungoides is frequently associated. Other reported associations include underlying hematologic malignancy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, infections, and eosinophilic folliculitis. Drug-induced cases due to captopril, oxcarbazepine, and imatinib have been reported.

Pediatric Patient Considerations:
Pediatric cases are generally of the primary acute variant. Lesions generally spontaneously resolve in a few months to a few years. Childhood alopecia mucinosa may rarely be associated with Hodgkin disease or mycosis fungoides.