Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Multicenter Review of 355 Patients

    Sergio Vañó‐Galván, Ana María Molina-Ruiz, C. Serrano-Falcón, Salvador Arias‐Santiago, Ana Rita Rodrigues-Barata, Gloria Garnacho‐Saucedo, A. Martorell, Pablo Fernández‐Crehuet, Ramón Grimalt, Beatriz Aranegui, Emiliano Grillo, B. Díaz-Ley, R. Salido, Sivia Pérez-Gala, Salvio Serrano, J.C. Moreno, Pedro Jaén, Francisco Camacho
    Image of study
    TLDR Most patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia are postmenopausal women, and treatments like finasteride and dutasteride can improve or stabilize the condition.
    In the 2014 multicenter retrospective study of 355 patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), researchers found that the condition predominantly affects postmenopausal women, with a mean age of 61 years, but can also occur in men and premenopausal women. Severe FFA, which involves significant recession of the frontotemporal hairline, was present in 37% of patients and was associated with eyelash loss, facial papules, and body hair involvement. Antiandrogens like finasteride and dutasteride were given to 31% of patients, with 47% showing improvement and 53% experiencing stabilization of the disease. The study suggests a hormonal role in FFA's pathogenesis, indicated by the high incidence of early menopause among patients and the response to antiandrogenic drugs. Other treatments had variable results, and the study highlights the potential for FFA to affect a broader demographic than previously thought.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    16 / 16 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 355 results
      Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      in Research  692 upvotes 2 months ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community Diffuse thinning is so brutal.

      in Styling  72 upvotes 1 year ago
      A 25-year-old with AGA experienced hair thinning and dandruff, stabilized with topical finasteride and minoxidil but saw minimal regrowth. They seek advice on styling and consider oral minoxidil and microneedling for denser hair.

      community Testosterone and hair loss seeming irrelevance

      in Research/Science  82 upvotes 1 year ago
      The conversation is about the role of testosterone in hair loss and the effectiveness of different treatments. The conclusion is that DHT is the main culprit for hair loss, and finasteride has been proven to work long-term in maintaining and regrowing hair. Testosterone may have a minor effect, but it is not the primary cause of hair loss.

      community scarring alopecia awareness in this community

      in Chat  33 upvotes 2 years ago
      Lichen Planopilaris (LPP), a form of permanent hair loss, which can be mistaken for seborrheic dermatitis and is characterized by scalp itching, burning, redness, and dandruff. Treatment options discussed include steroidal creams, finasteride, minoxidil, and RU58841.

      community Fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution

      in Research/Science  14 upvotes 6 months ago
      A user has been experiencing hair loss for 4 years, with treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and various supplements proving ineffective. They were diagnosed with fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution, a condition that may require a combination of anti-inflammatory and hair growth treatments.

    Related Research

    10 / 10 results