Cicatricial Alopecia: Diagnosis and Treatment Overview

May 2010 in “ Journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association ”

Jennifer Fu, Vera H. Price

cicatricial alopecia scarring alopecia hair follicles scalp biopsy hydroxychloroquine doxycycline mycophenolate mofetil cyclosporine pioglitazone intralesional triamcinolone acetonide topical treatments antimicrobial agents Plaquenil Vibramycin CellCept Neoral Actos Kenalog

Studysummary This article discusses cicatricial alopecias, focusing on diagnosis and management strategies, but reports no new clinical findings. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

Cicatricial alopecia, or scarring alopecia, was a condition characterized by permanent hair loss due to inflammatory destruction of hair follicles, classified into lymphocytic and neutrophilic groups. Diagnosis required a scalp biopsy, and treatment focused on symptom relief and halting progression, as hair regrowth was generally not possible. First-line treatments included hydroxychloroquine and doxycycline, with second-line options like mycophenolate mofetil and cyclosporine if needed. Pioglitazone showed promise in resistant cases, and adjuvant therapies included intralesional triamcinolone acetonide and topical treatments. For neutrophilic types, antimicrobial agents were essential. The condition did not affect general health and was neither hereditary nor contagious.

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