TLDR CCCA is a scarring hair loss condition mainly in African descent women, possibly caused by genetics and hairstyling, treated with gentle hair care and medications.
The document from 2008 provides an overview of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA), a scarring alopecia primarily affecting African descent women, with an average onset age of 36 for women and 31 for men. The cause is unclear, but it may involve genetic predisposition and damaging hairstyling practices. CCCA presents with red, itchy, scaling lesions that progress from the vertex or mid-scalp outward. Histologically, it is characterized by lymphocytic inflammation and fibrosis around hair follicles. Treatment focuses on avoiding scalp trauma, using hair care products cautiously, managing infections, and potentially employing corticosteroids, systemic antibiotics, and topical minoxidil. Differential diagnoses include other forms of cicatricial alopecia, each with unique clinical and histopathological features. The document highlights the need for more research to understand CCCA's etiology and develop effective treatments, while also noting the North American Hair Research Society's efforts to gather data on hairstyling practices and create a photographic scale for CCCA.
46 citations,
July 2008 in “Dermatologic Therapy” A scale was made to measure hair loss severity in African American women.
90 citations,
June 2006 in “The American Journal of Dermatopathology” The document concludes that accurate diagnosis of different types of hair loss requires careful examination of hair and scalp tissue, considering both clinical and microscopic features.
73 citations,
November 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Some women with common hair loss may develop permanent hair loss.
56 citations,
July 2005 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Using both vertical and transverse sections gives a better diagnosis of alopecia than using one method alone.
105 citations,
April 2004 in “Dermatologic Therapy” The document concludes that proper diagnosis and a combination of medical, hair-care, and surgical treatments are important for managing alopecia in black women.
254 citations,
December 2003 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Accurate diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial to prevent permanent hair loss in cicatricial alopecia.
158 citations,
February 2000 in “Archives of dermatology” Some people with pattern hair loss may also have scalp inflammation and scarring similar to lichen planopilaris.
August 2022 in “Contact dermatitis” Severe allergic reactions to hair dye can trigger hair loss and may be linked to multiple sclerosis.
March 2021 in “Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii” Minoxidil works equally well for hair growth regardless of scalp blood flow.
September 2020 in “Journal of Cutaneous Pathology” A patient with a skin condition had unusual scarring hair loss but improved with treatment.
6 citations,
January 2019 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology” About 12% of children in Kota, Rajasthan, experience hair loss, mainly due to fungal infections, with early treatment advised to prevent worsening.
A 21-year-old with lichen planopilaris was successfully treated, stopping disease progression and preventing crusts.
1 citations,
May 2016 in “Aktuelle Dermatologie” Trichoscopy helps monitor inflammation in Lichen planopilaris.
14 citations,
January 2015 in “Skin appendage disorders” Minoxidil treatment for hair loss can cause scalp allergy and severe hair loss.
36 citations,
May 2011 in “Dermatologic therapy” No treatments fully cure or prevent alopecia areata; some help but have side effects or need more research.
