Alopecia in congenital hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia responding to treatment with a combination of topical minoxidil and tretinoin

Clouston's syndrome is an ectodermal dysplasia characterized by dystrophic nails, alopecia, and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis. Alopecia is due to decrease in number and degree of maturation of the hair follicles. Tretinoin is a mitogen by itself and also enhances the absorption of minoxidil which acts by enlarging the miniaturized hair follicles. We report a case of alopecia in Clouston's syndrome who responded to treatment with topical minoxidil and tretinoin.