Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia: Possible Familial Aetiology in Two African Families from South Africa

The document describes a study involving seven patients from two South African families who were diagnosed with Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA), a condition that leads to scarring hair loss starting at the vertex of the scalp. The presence of CCCA in these families, which included a wide age range from an 11-year-old girl to a 92-year-old woman, suggests a genetic predisposition to the disease. The study highlights that CCCA can occur without the influence of chemical or mechanical hair damage, challenging the belief that hair grooming practices are the sole cause. The term "familial central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia" is proposed for cases with a family history of the condition. The authors emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and the adoption of gentle hair-grooming practices to prevent disease progression. This study is the first to document a familial link in CCCA, indicating the need for further research to confirm these findings.