Sunscreen and Facial Skincare Products in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Case-Control Study

In a case-control study conducted in 2017 at a specialist hair clinic in Melbourne, Australia, researchers investigated the association between sunscreen and facial skincare product use and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). The study involved 130 women with FFA and 130 age- and sex-matched controls with female androgenetic alopecia. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding their use of sunscreen, moisturisers, and cosmetics. The results showed that 92% of women with FFA reported regular use of dedicated sunscreen compared to 40% of controls, with a significant association between daily sunscreen use year-round and FFA (88% in FFA group vs. 29% in controls, p<0.001). There was no statistical difference in moisturiser use, but cosmetics were used more commonly by subjects with FFA (33%) than controls (16%, p=0.0023). The study supports the hypothesis that sunscreen use on the forehead may be involved in the etiology of FFA, suggesting a need for further research into the specific ingredients and their potential pathogenic role.