TLDR CCCA may be caused by both hair traction and an immune response.
The study evaluated a 46-year-old African American female with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) and found that premature desquamation of the inner root sheath and eccentric thinning of the follicular epithelium were key histopathologic features. Immunologic analysis revealed strong depositions of IgG, Complement/C3, and fibrinogen around hair follicles and supply vessels, along with increased expressions of VEGF and Oct-4. These findings suggested that the etiology of CCCA might involve not only hair traction but also a reactive immune response.
32 citations,
August 2015 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia” Black women's unique hair characteristics and styling practices can lead to specific scalp conditions, which require early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
44 citations,
April 2012 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Scarring alopecias are complex hair loss disorders that require early treatment to prevent permanent hair loss.
20 citations,
October 2013 in “British Journal of Dermatology” The document concludes that clinicians should be aware of common hair and scalp disorders in women of African descent and that more research is needed to develop effective treatments.
76 citations,
June 2008 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” The conclusion is that certain scalp tissue changes are characteristic of lichen planopilaris, with mucinous perifollicular fibroplasia being a new feature for diagnosis.
4 citations,
November 2021 in “Biomedicines” New digital tools are improving the diagnosis and understanding of irreversible hair loss conditions.