Early Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp Following Repeated Microinfusion of Medication Into the Skin in a Patient With Androgenetic Alopecia and Long-Term Exogenous Testosterone Use: A Case Report

    May 2026 in “ Cureus
    Gabriella A Oliveira, Leonardo de Medeiros Quirino, Cíntia Naomi Kumazawa, Tathiane Oliveira
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    TLDR Microinfusion therapy and testosterone use may cause scalp inflammation, requiring early recognition and treatment.
    This case report discusses a 34-year-old male with androgenetic alopecia who developed early dissecting cellulitis of the scalp after undergoing repeated microinfusion therapy and long-term exogenous testosterone use. The patient presented with painful inflammatory scalp nodules 45 days after the procedure, which involved a 27-needle device. Histopathology confirmed dissecting folliculitis. Treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroids resulted in partial improvement. The report suggests that microtrauma from the procedure and testosterone use may have contributed to the condition, emphasizing the need for early recognition and awareness of potential risks associated with scalp microinfusion therapies. While causality cannot be established from this single case, clinicians should consider dissecting cellulitis in their differential diagnosis when encountering early inflammatory nodules post-procedure.
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