Clinical Features and Sex Hormone Profile in Male Patients with Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Multicenter Retrospective Study with 33 Patients

This multicenter retrospective study investigated the clinical features and sex hormone profiles of 33 male patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), a variant of lichen planopilaris. The patients had a mean age of 53.1 years and varied skin types, with a disease duration of less than 5 years in 45.4% and more than 5 years in 54.5% of cases. The study found that 61.5% of the subset of patients who underwent sex hormone tests (n = 13) showed abnormalities in their sex hormone levels. Notably, 75% of these patients with hormonal abnormalities were either obese or overweight and had FFA for at least 5 years. The study suggests a potential hormonal involvement in FFA, particularly in overweight/obese men with long-standing disease, but acknowledges limitations such as the lack of a control group and incomplete hormone testing across all patients. Further research is needed to better understand the role of body mass index and sex hormone levels in FFA to improve patient management.