Medical Therapy for Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Review and Clinical Approach

    Anthony D. Ho, Jerry Shapiro
    Image of study
    TLDR Some treatments like intralesional steroids and 5α-reductase inhibitors are effective for frontal fibrosing alopecia, but more research is needed.
    The 2019 document reviews the effectiveness of medical therapies for frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), a condition that leads to permanent hair loss. The authors analyzed 270 items, including case reports and retrospective cohort studies, and found that intralesional steroids and 5α-reductase inhibitors had the highest reported effectiveness at 88%. Other treatments like oral prednisone, topical steroids, antibiotics, pioglitazone, systemic retinoids, and hair transplantation were also evaluated. The review suggests that early intervention may alter the disease course, but highlights the permanent nature of hair loss in FFA. It also points out the lack of placebo-controlled studies and uniform outcome measures. The document discusses a range of treatments from topical agents to hair transplants, noting variable responses and the potential influence of environmental factors. The authors propose a clinical approach based on their review and experience, reporting eyebrow regrowth in 71% of patients and varied responses to treatments over 6 to 12 months. The conclusion emphasizes the need for more rigorous studies to determine the efficacy of treatments for FFA.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    28 / 28 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 403 results

      community Fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution

      in Research/Science  14 upvotes 9 months ago
      A user has been experiencing hair loss for 4 years, with treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and various supplements proving ineffective. They were diagnosed with fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution, a condition that may require a combination of anti-inflammatory and hair growth treatments.
      If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

      in Research  822 upvotes 5 months ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

      community almost 6 months of progress :)

      in Progress Pictures  531 upvotes 3 weeks ago
      The user shared their 6-month hair regrowth progress using finasteride, minoxidil, biotin, and iron supplements, along with occasional microneedling and specific shampoos. They reported minimal side effects and no retrograde alopecia, attributing their success to a combination of treatments.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results
      Clinical Trials and Hair Loss

      research Clinical Trials and Hair Loss

      1 citations, July 2018 in “Elsevier eBooks”
      Many treatments for hair loss show potential, but more testing is needed to confirm their effectiveness. Only minoxidil for women and minoxidil and finasteride for men are FDA approved.