Medical Care
Many Fox-Fordyce disease patients improve when placed on an oral contraceptive pill. Based on the observations of follicular occlusion, Shelley proposed topical tretinoin cream as therapy in 1972. [10] Reports of success with topical retinoids followed, along with reports of success with topical steroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, antibiotics, topical clindamycin, [15, 16] clindamycin in alcoholic propylene glycol solution, hormonal therapy in women, ultraviolet light, dermabrasion, and surgical excision. Usually, these therapies were not curative and were often complicated by intolerable irritation. In 1994, Effendy et al reported the short-term success of isotretinoin when given for 4 months in a daily oral dose of 15-30 mg; the condition returned 3 months after cessation of therapy.
Surgical Care
Surgical excision of affected areas in the axilla has been performed in the past, but it is seldom recommended. Chae et al reported treatment of Fox-Fordyce disease with liposuction-assisted curettage. [17] Pulsed dye laser has been reported as a possibly effective treatment. [18]
