Alopecia Areata Mimicking Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

February 2021 in “ Cureus ”

Lara Trindade de Carvalho, Nicole Izhakoff, Nekma Meah, Rodney Sinclair

alopecia areata frontal fibrosing alopecia scarring alopecia nonscarring alopecia hair follicle disorders hair loss dermoscopy corticosteroids minoxidil AA FFA Rogaine

TLDR A woman's hair loss was initially misdiagnosed as scarring hair loss but was actually a treatable autoimmune hair loss.

The document presents a case of a 59-year-old woman who was initially suspected to have Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA), a form of scarring alopecia, due to unusual involvement of the frontal hairline. However, dermoscopic findings and response to treatment indicated that she actually had Alopecia Areata (AA), an autoimmune nonscarring alopecia. AA and FFA are both hair follicle disorders leading to hair loss, but they have different clinical patterns and treatments. AA is more common, affecting 0.1% to 0.2% of the population, and can lead to partial or full hair regrowth with treatment. FFA, on the other hand, is typically irreversible. The patient's hair regrowth after treatment with corticosteroids and minoxidil confirmed the diagnosis of AA. This case emphasizes the importance of including AA in the differential diagnosis for FFA and the role of dermoscopy in early recognition and treatment of AA.

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Research cited in this study

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research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Review of 60 Cases

166 citations, April 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Mostly postmenopausal Caucasian women get Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, which often includes eyebrow loss and has limited treatment success.

research The Role of Scalp Dermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata Incognita

150 citations, April 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Scalp dermoscopy is good for diagnosing a type of hair loss and helps choose the best spots for biopsy.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 3 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community scarring alopecia awareness in this community

in Chat 33 upvotes 2 years ago

Lichen Planopilaris (LPP), a form of permanent hair loss, which can be mistaken for seborrheic dermatitis and is characterized by scalp itching, burning, redness, and dandruff. Treatment options discussed include steroidal creams, finasteride, minoxidil, and RU58841.

community Actor Jacob Batalon, 26, has a receding hairline. I thought it was pretty cool to see a younger actor being successful, despite dealing with hair loss. His most well known role is Ned Leeds in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and he is currently the CEO of Sex.

in Satire 498 upvotes 1 year ago

Actor Jacob Batalon's receding hairline and how it is a sign of his success despite dealing with hair loss, with some people suggesting he may be using treatments such as Minoxidil or Finasteride to manage it.

community How essential is scalp biopsy when dealing with hair loss?

in Treatment 6 upvotes 4 weeks ago

The user experienced hair loss despite using Fin and Min for 12 years and switched to Dutasteride, RU58841, and Keto scalp serum, but shedding and itch persist. They are considering increasing Dutasteride to 2.5mg and questioning the necessity of a scalp biopsy, with mixed opinions on its usefulness.

community Diffuse thinning is so brutal.

in Styling 72 upvotes 1 year ago

A 25-year-old with AGA experienced hair thinning and dandruff, stabilized with topical finasteride and minoxidil but saw minimal regrowth. They seek advice on styling and consider oral minoxidil and microneedling for denser hair.

community So we’re just ok with taking a research chemical now?

in Treatment 181 upvotes 3 years ago

The conversation discusses the use of RU58841, a non-FDA approved research chemical for hair loss, with mixed opinions on its safety and effectiveness. Some users are willing to try it as a last resort after other treatments like Minoxidil and Finasteride failed, while others express concerns about potential long-term side effects and lack of official research.

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