Horizontal and vertical sections of scalp biopsy specimens from dermatomyositis patients with scalp involvement

Scalp involvement in dermatomyositis manifests as a pruritic eruption with erythema and scaling associated with nonscarring alopecia. We characterized the histologic features of scalp dermatomyositis using horizontal and vertical sections. Characteristic findings of scalp dermatomyositis include preserved follicular architecture, hair counts consistent with chronic telogen effluvium, telangiectasia and mucin.