48 citations
,
November 2018 in “Journal of dermatological treatment” In a study reviewing 291 patients with lichen planopilaris, findings revealed that women were more commonly affected than men, cyclosporine and methotrexate were most effective in achieving remission, and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and systemic retinoids were particularly beneficial for frontal fibrosing alopecia.
79 citations
,
September 2018 in “Dermatologic therapy” This study found that treatment with oral tofacitinib, alone or with other therapies, was associated with clinical improvement in most patients with recalcitrant lichen planopilaris.
71 citations
,
October 2017 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” PPAR-γ agonists like pioglitazone may help manage lichen planopilaris but don't fully reverse scarring.
26 citations
,
October 2017 in “PubMed” According to this study, systemic retinoids, specifically oral isotretinoin and acitretin, were more effective than finasteride in stabilizing the frontal hairline in female patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia, achieving treatment goals in over 70% of cases.
32 citations
,
September 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” In this study, researchers reported that oral isotretinoin effectively treated facial papules in frontal fibrosing alopecia, with histopathologic findings suggesting the involvement of elastic fibers and sebaceous glands in papule formation beyond perifollicular inflammation.
44 citations
,
February 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” This study found that postmenopausal women with lichen planopilaris showed a high prevalence of androgen excess, while women with frontal fibrosing alopecia were often associated with androgen deficiency.
40 citations
,
December 2016 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” This study reviewed the role of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in skin diseases and the potential of JAK inhibitors for treating conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Although the findings are promising, the authors concluded it is premature to establish their place in dermatological treatments.
65 citations
,
November 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This article reviews various types of primary cicatricial alopecias and emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis to improve management strategies, particularly detailing remaining lymphocytic forms and expanding on neutrophilic and mixed types.
20 citations
,
January 2016 in “Intractable & Rare Diseases Research” In this clinical experience, treating frontal fibrosing alopecia with oral finasteride, hydroxychloroquine, tacrolimus, and excimer laser was associated with optimal results in patients with active inflammation.
2 citations
,
November 2015 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas” The document suggests a possible link between mast cells and scarring alopecia, recommending more research for potential treatments.
7 citations
,
October 2015 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas” This article reviews the increasing incidence of frontal fibrosing alopecia since its first description in 1994 and reports no new results.
60 citations
,
May 2015 in “Archives of dermatological research” This review discusses the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and their agonists in dermatology but reports no new clinical results.
26 citations
,
March 2015 in “American journal of clinical dermatology” This study found that systemic mycophenolate mofetil and topical clobetasol were equally effective at reducing lichen planopilaris activity over six months, but satisfaction differed between the treatments.
102 citations
,
April 2014 in “International Journal of Dermatology” This study found that early intervention and treatment with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide may stabilize hairline recession in patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia, although further research is needed for definitive treatment guidelines.
339 citations
,
February 2014 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study found that eyelash loss, facial papules, and body hair involvement were linked to severe frontal fibrosing alopecia, and antiandrogens were the most effective treatment.
33 citations
,
October 2013 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” In this study, pioglitazone treatment in patients with lichen planopilaris showed limited success, with significant improvement seen in only a minority of cases.
220 citations
,
June 2013 in “The Journal of Pathology” This study found that immune privilege collapse in the hair follicle bulge and associated immune responses may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of lichen planopilaris, suggesting a potential autoimmune basis for the disease.
98 citations
,
January 2013 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study reported that while various treatments for frontal fibrosing alopecia showed limited effectiveness, dutasteride most effectively stabilized the condition among patients at Duke University.
42 citations
,
July 2012 in “PLOS ONE” This study found that estrogen can cause reversible suppression of the hair cycle by inducing premature catagen and maintaining the telogen phase without damaging the hair follicle stem cell niche or the signature gene expressions of dermal papilla cells.
166 citations
,
April 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study reviewed clinical data from 60 patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia and found increasing prevalence and generally poor response to treatment, with the cause remaining unclear.
19 citations
,
September 2011 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” TGF-β1 increases androgen receptor activity in hair loss, but Hic-5/ARA55 can counter this effect.
150 citations
,
October 2010 in “The American Journal of Pathology” This review discusses the pathogenesis and challenges in treating primary cicatricial alopecia, highlighting the need to understand immune protection collapse in hair follicle stem cells; it reports no new clinical results.
9 citations
,
September 2010 in “Dermatologic therapy” This study found that combined therapy with cetirizine and topical steroids stabilized inflammation in most patients with lichen planus pilaris, though one patient experienced cardiac arrhythmia.
159 citations
,
August 2010 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” In this study, hydroxychloroquine significantly reduced signs and symptoms of frontal fibrosing alopecia after 6 months of treatment, with maximal benefits observed within the first 6 months.
42 citations
,
July 2010 in “European Journal of Cell Biology” This study found that thyroid hormones T3 and T4 enhance keratin 15 promoter activity and stimulate CD200 expression in epithelial stem cells from human scalp hair follicles, affecting their growth and differentiation.
29 citations
,
February 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study explores the expression of Snail1 in the fibrotic dermis of postmenopausal women with frontal fibrosing alopecia, suggesting a possible link to epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
159 citations
,
November 2007 in “American Journal of Pathology” In this study, researchers found that substance P triggered premature catagen development and immune changes in human scalp hair follicles, providing a possible biological link between stress and hair loss conditions like telogen effluvium and alopecia areata.
126 citations
,
April 2006 in “International Journal of Dermatology” This study found that frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris have similar histopathological features, but FFA exhibits more prominent apoptosis and less inflammation with spared interfollicular epidermis.
219 citations
,
January 2006 in “Drug Metabolism Reviews” This review discusses how dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may exert its biological effects through multiple receptors and reports no new clinical results.
44 citations
,
January 2006 in “Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin” This research suggests that testosterone-induced expression of TGF-beta1 and type I procollagen may lead to perifollicular fibrosis in androgenetic alopecia, with finasteride inhibiting this process as a possible mechanism for its effects.
1279 citations
,
November 2005 in “Nature Medicine” 
179 citations
,
December 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study observed that frontal fibrosing alopecia in postmenopausal women involves selective follicular inflammation, and finasteride treatment may slow disease progression, suggesting a potential androgen-related component.
115 citations
,
November 2004 in “Brain Behavior and Immunity” This study found that stress increases the number of peptidergic nerve fibers and mast cell activity in mouse skin, suggesting a significant neuro-immune interaction under stress.
108 citations
,
July 2004 in “American Journal of Pathology” This study suggests that nerve growth factor plays a crucial role in the stress-induced termination of hair growth in mice, and its antagonism might offer a therapeutic approach to mitigate stress-related hair loss.
49 citations
,
January 2003 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” This report from the UK reviews the literature on post-menopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia and highlights its under-recognition and distinctive characteristics compared to lichen planopilaris, but does not provide new results.
329 citations
,
January 1997 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” This study reports that progressive frontal fibrosing alopecia, a distinct and gradually stabilizing form of lichen planopilaris affecting elderly women and often involving eyebrow hair loss, lacks effective treatments.
