Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Reflections and Hypotheses on Etiology and Pathogenesis
October 2016
in “
Experimental dermatology
”
TLDR FFA's causes may include environmental triggers and genetic factors.
Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), first described in 1994, remained poorly understood due to its clinical variability, rarity, and limited access to consistent patient cohorts. The lack of epidemiological, interventional, and basic research studies, along with no advancements in translational therapeutics, hindered progress in understanding FFA compared to other inflammatory dermatoses like alopecia areata. Dermatologists observed an increasing incidence of FFA, suggesting potential environmental triggers, while familial cases indicated a possible genetic component. The review aimed to summarize current knowledge on FFA's pathobiology and propose hypotheses to further investigate this hair disorder.
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