Medical and Environmental Risk Factors for the Development of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia
August 2011
in “Archives of Dermatology”
TLDR Type 2 diabetes, bacterial scalp infections, and tight hairstyles like braids and weaves are linked to a higher risk of a scarring hair loss condition in African American women.
The study examined 326 African American women to identify risk factors for Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA), a prevalent scarring alopecia. It found that 28% had central hair loss, with 59% showing advanced hair loss indicative of CCCA. The results indicated that type 2 diabetes mellitus was significantly more common in those with CCCA (P=.01), as were bacterial scalp infections (P=.045) and hair styles that cause traction, like braids and weaves (P=.02). Although chemical relaxer use was not significantly linked to CCCA, its effects were hard to isolate due to its common use. The study also suggested that CCCA might be a sign of metabolic dysfunction, given the overrepresentation of type 2 diabetes mellitus in affected individuals. A history of male-pattern baldness in maternal grandfathers emerged as a risk factor, but hormonal dysregulation did not. The study acknowledged limitations such as self-report bias and the absence of biopsy confirmation for CCCA diagnosis, calling for further research to investigate the associations found.
View this study on doi.org →
Cited in this study
research Lichen Planopilaris Treated With a Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor γ Agonist
A specific drug can help treat Lichen Planopilaris, a condition causing permanent hair loss.
research Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: Past, present, and future
CCCA is a hair loss type affecting African women, possibly caused by grooming and chemicals, with various treatments and needing more research.
research Central scalp alopecia photographic scale in AfricanAmerican women
A scale was made to measure hair loss severity in African American women.
research Hair loss: is there a relationship with hair care practices in Nigeria?
Frequent use of chemical hair relaxants is linked to increased scarring hair loss in Nigerian women.
Related
research Sensitive Scalp: An Epidemiologic Study in Patients with Hair Loss
Many people with hair loss, especially those with telogen effluvium and alopecia areata, often have a sensitive scalp.
research Time to Loss of Response for Dupilumab in Ophiasis-Pattern Alopecia Areata
Dupilumab helped a woman with severe hair loss regrow her hair quickly and maintain it for six months after stopping treatment.
research A clinico-epidemiological study of scalp hair loss in children (0–18 years) in Kota Region, South-East Rajasthan
About 12% of children in Kota, Rajasthan, experience hair loss, mainly due to fungal infections, with early treatment advised to prevent worsening.
research Psoriatic Alopecia in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
A woman with lupus improved significantly from scalp hair loss after treatment, highlighting the need to identify psoriatic alopecia in lupus patients to avoid permanent hair loss.
research Scalp Psoriasiform Contact Dermatitis with Acute Telogen Effluvium due to Topical Minoxidil Treatment
Minoxidil treatment for hair loss can cause scalp allergy and severe hair loss.
research Hair loss in children: Common and uncommon causes; clinical and epidemiological study in Jordan
The most common causes of hair loss in Jordanian children are fungal infections, autoimmune hair loss, and hair shedding after fever, with zinc deficiency also being a notable cause.
research Alopecia areata: Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and unusual cases
Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that can lead to complete baldness, often associated with other autoimmune conditions, and half of the cases may see hair return within a year.
research Topical and intralesional therapies for alopecia areata
No treatments fully cure or prevent alopecia areata; some help but have side effects or need more research.
research Telogen effluvium after allergic contact dermatitis of the scalp.
Allergic scalp reactions can cause temporary hair loss.