Therapeutic Response of Facial Papules and Inflammation in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia to Low-Dose Oral Isotretinoin

    April 2020
    Christine T.N. Pham, Anna-Marie Hosking, Surget V. Cox, Natasha Atanaskova Mesinkovska
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    TLDR Low-dose oral isotretinoin improved hair loss and facial bumps in patients with a specific type of hair loss.
    In a 2020 case series, three patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) were treated with low-dose oral isotretinoin, resulting in hair loss stability and significant improvement in facial papules. The patients, aged 28, 42, and 65, had not responded to previous treatments. Following isotretinoin treatment, all experienced decreased hair shedding, improved scalp scores, and a reduction in facial papules. The study suggested that low-dose isotretinoin could be effective for managing FFA symptoms, but recommended further research to confirm its efficacy and determine appropriate dosing.
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