Hypopigmentation in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

    May 2017 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Jessica J. Lin, Manuel Valdebran, Wilma F. Bergfeld, Rosalynn R.Z. Conic, Melissa Piliang, Natasha Atanaskova Mesinkovska
    TLDR FFA patients have fewer melanocytes and thinner skin compared to others.
    The study investigated hypopigmentation in frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) by comparing melanocyte counts and epidermal thickness in scalp biopsy specimens from patients with FFA, lichen planopilaris (LPP), and controls. The results showed that FFA patients had significantly lower melanocyte counts and reduced epidermal thickness compared to LPP patients and controls. Specifically, mean melanocyte counts in FFA were 2.7 ± 1.3 (Melan-A stain) and 1.5 ± 0.7 (tyrosinase stain) per high-power field, while controls had 7.9 ± 3.5 and 4.9 ± 3.7, respectively. The study concluded that the hypopigmentation observed in FFA is associated with decreased melanocyte numbers, and further research is needed to explore the pathophysiologic connection between melanocyte loss and hair follicles in FFA.
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