Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Treatment with Oral Dutasteride and Topical Pimecrolimus

May 2009 in “ Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology ”

Alexander C. Katoulis, S. Georgala, E. Bozi, Evangelia Papadavid, Dimitris Kalogeromitros, Nikolaos Stavrianeas

TLDR Oral dutasteride and topical pimecrolimus can safely and effectively treat Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, leading to significant hair regrowth.

In 2009, a 55-year-old woman with Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA) was treated with 0.5 mg of oral dutasteride daily for 6 months and pimecrolimus 1% cream twice daily for 3 months. The treatment resulted in significant hair regrowth in the eyebrows and axillae, and moderate improvement in the scalp. The only side effect reported was constipation. No recurrences were observed 6 months post-treatment. The study concluded that combining oral dutasteride with a topical calcineurin inhibitor could be a safe and effective treatment for FFA.

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research The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

215 citations , December 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride more effective for hair growth, but has more side effects than finasteride.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Versus Lichen Planopilaris: A Clinicopathological Study

126 citations , April 2006 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

The conclusion is that FFA and LPP have similar scalp biopsy features, making them hard to distinguish histologically, and FFA may be a specific kind of scarring hair loss.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Survey in 16 Patients

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The study found that Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia affects a broader age range of women and early treatment can help stop hair loss.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia in Postmenopausal Women

179 citations , January 2005 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Some postmenopausal women with frontal fibrosing alopecia stopped losing hair with finasteride treatment, hinting at a possible hormonal cause.

research Frontal fibrosing alopecia associated with cutaneous lichen planus in a premenopausal woman

89 citations , February 2002 in “Australasian journal of dermatology”

A premenopausal woman had hair loss and skin issues, treated with topical steroids.

research Fibrosing Alopecia in a Pattern Distribution

158 citations , February 2000 in “Archives of dermatology”

Some people with pattern hair loss may also have scalp inflammation and scarring similar to lichen planopilaris.

research Postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia: A frontal variant of lichen planopilaris

329 citations , January 1997 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a hair loss condition in postmenopausal women, similar to lichen planopilaris, with ineffective treatments.