Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Multicenter Review of 355 Patients

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.