Breaking the Pattern: Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia in Men, a Case Series
June 2025
in “
British Journal of Dermatology
”
Studysummary This report describes two unusual cases of frontal fibrosing alopecia in men, highlighting potential vaccine-related immune triggers and genetic factors, especially regarding the pronounced facial papular phenotype observed. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This case series highlights two unusual instances of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) in men, a condition typically affecting postmenopausal White women. The first case involved a 51-year-old White man who developed scarring alopecia after COVID-19 vaccination, with symptoms including perifollicular erythema and frontal hairline recession. His son also developed oral lichen planus post-vaccination, suggesting a possible immune response. The second case was a 44-year-old South Asian man with a misdiagnosed facial rash, later confirmed as FFA with perifollicular inflammation. These cases underscore the rarity of FFA in men, its potential link to immune triggers like vaccines, and the need for further research into genetic and environmental factors. A 2023 study identified two genes associated with male FFA, distinct from those in women, indicating different underlying mechanisms.
