Gynecologic and Hormonal Comorbidities of Scarring Alopecia: A Retrospective Review
April 2019
in “
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
”
Studysummary This study suggests that hormone replacement therapy and oral contraception may have a protective role in scarring alopecia, as these were reported less frequently by patients with the condition compared to those with female pattern hair loss.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The retrospective review compared gynecologic and hormonal comorbidities in 105 female patients with scarring alopecia to 105 age- and sex-matched controls with female pattern hair loss (FPHL), finding no significant difference in gynecologic conditions or reproductive history between the groups. However, it was noted that scarring alopecia patients were less likely to have used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (11% vs 24%, p=0.0185) or oral contraceptives (OCP) (21% vs 35%, p=0.023), suggesting a potential protective effect of these hormonal treatments against scarring alopecia. The study calls for larger studies to further investigate the role of hormones in this condition.
