Psoriasiform rash possibly induced by oral propranolol in a 12-month-old girl with infantile hemangioma: a case report and literature review

Infantile hemangiomas are the most common soft-tissue tumors in children, with propranolol, a non-cardioselective β-blocker, considered the first-line treatment for complicated cases. β-blockers have been reported to be the most common causative agents for drug-induced psoriasis in adults. In the pediatric population, only one previous case has been reported. We report the case of a 12-month-old girl who developed a psoriasiform rash after starting oral propranolol for infantile hemangiomas on the scalp. The patient had no personal or family history of psoriasis. The rash appeared one week post-initiation of propranolol, presenting as well-defined erythematous, scaly plaques over the body, including the scalp. Infectious causes were excluded, and the rash was diagnosed as a psoriasiform rash, possibly induced by oral propranolol. The patient was switched to atenolol, which resulted in improvement of the hemangioma and complete resolution of the skin lesions. This case highlights the rare but significant risk of psoriasiform eruptions associated with β-blocker therapy in infants, emphasizing the need for careful recognition and monitoring of this potential adverse effect in pediatric patients treated for infantile hemangiomas.