Prevalence and Etiology of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

The document reviewed Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA), a scarring hair loss condition predominantly affecting African descent women, with unclear etiology but suspected multifactorial causes including genetics, hair grooming habits, and African hair structure. It referenced a study by Kyei et al. with 310 African American women, revealing 28% had central hair loss and 59% of those had severe hair loss, noting a significant link between type 2 diabetes and severe hair loss, as well as higher rates of bacterial infections and fertility issues in CCCA patients. Another study by Olsen et al. with 529 African American women showed a 5.6% prevalence of extensive central alopecia, with a positive correlation between patient age and hair loss severity. The document highlighted the necessity for more research on CCCA, including its possible systemic connections, like diabetes and vitamin D deficiency.