Trichoscopy of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Affecting Black Scalp: A Literature Review.

Background: Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a primary lymphocytic scarring alopecia characterized by progressive recession of the frontotemporal hairline, affecting mainly postmenopausal and, lately, premenopausal women of African descent. Considering the importance of trichoscopy on FFA diagnosis and the peculiarities found in patients with higher skin phototypes, this study aimed to review the FFA trichoscopy in the black scalp (Fitzpatrick IV-VI), a topic that remains sparsely described in the existing literature. Summary: In black patients, FFA may manifest singular features on presentation posing diagnostic clinical and trichoscopic challenges. This group has lower prevalence of the FFA compared to other alopecias. It may have an earlier age of onset and often exhibits more severe manifestations due to the coexistence of other types of alopecia and delay in diagnosis. The early signs of the disease in black patients may manifest in the eyebrows before scalp hair loss and lichen planus pigmentosus may be a herald sign. Key Messages: Our research analyzes FFA trichoscopy findings in black patients to help precise diagnosis and treatment. Raising awareness of the disease characteristics on trichoscopy contributes to improving hair care in this population.

Trichoscopy of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia: A Retrospective Study and Literature Review.

Introduction: Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is the most common cause of scarring alopecia in middle-aged black women. Trichoscopy is a noninvasive tool for diagnosis and follow-up of hair and scalp disorders. To date, limited studies have focused on its applicability to CCCA in existing literature. Methods: The present study aimed to describe the trichoscopic findings of 11 dark-skinned women with confirmed CCCA and provide a comprehensive discussion of our current knowledge regarding trichoscopy of this disease through a literature review. A thorough understanding of CCCA trichoscopy holds significant promise for early confirmation and treatment. Conclusion: By doing so, it is possible to mitigate the development of complications and alleviate the subsequent impact on patients' quality of life.

Serial Excision Technique to Reduce Cicatricial Alopecia.

Introduction: Cicatricial alopecia (CA) poses a challenge for dermatologists due to irreversible hair follicle damage. While pharmacological treatments offer limited efficacy, surgical interventions aim to improve aesthetic outcomes. This article explores the serial excision technique (SET) as a viable option for stable cases of inflammatory CA. Case Report/Case Presentation: Three adult females with different forms of CA underwent staged surgeries to correct CA patches. Procedures included different incision and closure methods based on individual characteristics such as age, type and extent of alopecia, location, and tissue mobility in the scarred area. Discussion: CA significantly impacts patients' quality of life, demanding comprehensive treatment approaches. SET emerges as an encouraging possibility for stable cases, providing notable cosmetic improvements and enhancing patients' well-being. This technique offers cost-effective benefits with potential standalone efficacy or in combination with hair transplantation, providing promising outcomes for individuals with CA.

Case Series of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia and Fibrosing Alopecia in a Pattern Distribution: Is There a Familial Correlation?

Introduction: Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA) and Fibrosing Alopecia in a Pattern Distribution (FAPD) are two distinct entities of cicatricial pattern hair loss that share histological features of perifollicular lichenoid inflammation associated with concentric fibrosis. Although the pathophysiology of FFA and FAPD are still unknown, recently published reports of familial cases indicate a possible genetic correlation. Case Presentation: We report 6 cases of familial alopecia composed of mothers and daughters: five with FFA and one with FAPD. We describe clinical, trichoscopy and histological correlation in cases of familial alopecia. Conclusions: These cases of mother and daughter disease association suggest a potential benefit of and role for performing systematic scalp examinations of all first-degree relatives of patients with pattern cicatricial alopecia.

Scarring Alopecia.

African hair shaft and pigmented scalp have unique features that challenge diagnosis in scarring alopecia. In addition, Black patients may associate 2 or more types of hair disorders. Therefore, it is imperative to understand their findings thoroughly to establish a good diagnosis. Differential diagnosis on the frontal scalp includes traction alopecia and frontal fibrosing alopecia. Disorders such as central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution, discoid lupus erythematosus, and lichen planopilaris usually affect the middle scalp. Folliculitis decalvans, dissecting cellulitis, and acne keloidalis nuchae are the main differential diagnosis of the posterior scalp.

Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia in the Adolescent Population: An Overview of Available Literature.

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a lymphocytic scarring alopecia that predominantly affects women of African descent. Recent studies have demonstrated prevalence in children and adolescents, as well as Asian populations. A thorough search of Pubmed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, OVID Medline and Google Scholar was conducted using keywords such as "central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia", "scarring hair loss", "scarring alopecia", "hot comb alopecia", "pediatric" and "adolescent". The results yielded few articles in the literature that directly addressed CCCA in the adolescent population, with three articles providing details of the presentation in the form of case series and retrospective reviews. The presentation in the adolescent population was found to be varied, ranging from asymptomatic to symptomatic and involving diffuse to patchy hair loss in only the vertex and/or frontal and parietal scalp. Genetic and environmental etiologies were found to be statistically significant, and markers of metabolic dysregulation predisposing patients to diabetes mellitus and breast cancer were also uncovered. The differential diagnosis of patients who present with hair loss in the adolescent population should therefore be broad, and a low threshold for biopsies should be adopted to confirm CCCA in suspected patients. This will have future implications for reduced morbidity and public health.

Folliculitis decalvans: a case report of satisfactory recovery after implementing

ABSTRACT Introduction: Folliculitis decalvans is a rare skin disease characterized by the presence of painful papules and pustules with an underlying neutrophilic infiltrate, usually on the scalp. Its treatment is lengthy and challenging, and recurrence is relatively common. Although its etiology is unknown, several theories explaining its development have been proposed, including colonization by Staphylococcus aureus. Case description: This is the case of a 26-year-old male healthcare worker who visited the outpatient service after experiencing a 4-year history of painful pustules on the scalp; initially these lesions were located in the occipital region, but then also started to appear in the temporal and parietal regions. After being treated for bacterial folliculitis and having several recurrences, a skin biopsy was performed, which allowed diagnosing him with folliculitis decalvans. Once the diagnosis was made, isotretinoin (20mg) treatment was implemented for a year and a half, achieving complete remission of the lesions. Conclusion: Although this case has some limitations, such as the lack of histopathology images and some control laboratory tests, it clearly shows the difficulties faced when treating this type of skin disorders and presents an overview of the use of isotretinoin, evidencing that although this drug is well tolerated, possible adverse reactions from drug interactions with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole may arise. In addition, this case is of great importance since the possible presence of a familial cluster of folliculitis decalvans could be confirmed, if further genetic testing is performed.

RESUMEN Introducción. La folliculitis decalvans es una enfermedad dermatológica rara caracterizada por la presencia de pápulas y pústulas dolorosas que están acompañadas de un infiltrado de neutrófilos subyacente. Esta condición suele aparecer en el cuero cabelludo, su recurrencia es relativamente común y su tratamiento, largo y difícil. Aunque su etiología es desconocida, se han propuesto muchas teorías que intentan explicar su aparición, siendo la colonización por Staphylococcus aureus una de ellas. Presentación del caso. Hombre de 26 años que se desempeñaba como trabajador de la salud y consultó por un cuadro clínico de 4 años de evolución caracterizado por la aparición de pústulas dolorosas en la región occipital, las cuales posteriormente se extendieron a la región temporal y parietal. Después de tratarlo como una foliculitis infecciosa y tras múltiples recurrencias, se realizó una biopsia de las lesiones que permitió diagnosticarlo con folliculitis decalvans. Se instauró un tratamiento consistente de 20mg de isotretinoina al día por un año y medio, con el cual se logró la resolución de la folicutis. Sin embargo, dos años después tuvo un relapso, pero, según el paciente, esto pudo ocurrir por el consumo de derivados lácteos, ya que, según indicó, cuando suspende el consumo de esta clase de productos no aparecen más lesiones luego de 2-3 semanas. Conclusión. Aunque este caso tiene algunas limitaciones como la ausencia de imágenes histopatológicas y algunos laboratorios de control, muestra las dificultades para tratar este tipo de condiciones dermatológicas y presenta un panorama del uso de la isotretinoina, ya que evidencia que este medicamento tiene una buena tolerancia, pero presenta interacciones medicamentosas adversas con la trimetoprima/sulfametoxazol. Además, este caso es de gran importancia, ya que, si se realizan más pruebas genéticas, podría confirmarse la posible presencia de un grupo familiar de foliculitis decalvante.

Eyebrow Regrowth in Patients with Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Treated with Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil.

INTRODUCTION: The eyebrows are an important facial feature that shape one's physical appearance and play a role in non-verbal communication. Partial or complete eyebrow loss is seen in most patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). Despite the scarring nature of FFA, eyebrow hair regrowth has been previously reported. Nevertheless, treatment options and supporting evidence remain scarce. CASE PRESENTATION: We report eyebrow regrowth in 7 patients with FFA treated with low-dose oral minoxidil (OM). CONCLUSION: Low-dose OM could be a promising adjunctive therapy for treatment of the eyebrows in patients with FFA, particularly in early disease.

Fibrosing Alopecia in a Pattern Distribution (FAPD) in 16 African-Descent and Hispanic Female Patients: A Challenging Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution (FAPD) has only been described in Caucasian patients, and it is not clear whether it can develop in dark-skin ethnicities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen Brazilian female patients, 12 of African descent and 4 Hispanic, with progressive scarring alopecia in a pattern distribution were analyzed. RESULTS: Dermatoscopic features showed perifollicular erythema and scaling (14/16), hair fiber diameter diversity (16/16), loss of follicular ostia (16/16), and follicular keratosis (3/16). Late stages showed a honeycomb pigmented network (12/16), a hyperpigmented perifollicular halo (12/16), and small white patches (12/16). Histopathological features showed lichenoid perifollicular infiltrate (14/16), follicular miniaturization (16/16), concentric fibrosis (16/16), perifollicular lymphocytic infiltrate (16/16), and vellus hair involvement (10/16). Premature desquamation of the inner root sheath was found in 11 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The concomitant findings of cicatricial pattern hair loss (with or without the recess of the front hair line), hair fiber diversity, perifollicular erythema and scaling, a whitish perifollicular halo, and histological findings of androgenetic alopecia, with vacuolar interface alteration of the upper portion of the follicular epithelium, are the main key features to suggest the diagnosis of FAPD. FAPD is a possible diagnosis in patients of color with cicatricial pattern hair loss. Clinical, dermatoscopic, and histopathological examination allow a proper final differential diagnosis.

Foliculitis decalvante y disecante. reporte de cuatro casos clínicos / Folliculitis decalvans and dissecting folliculitis.report of four clinics cases

RESUMEN Las alopecias cicatrizales comprenden un grupo heterogéneo de trastornos, que dan lugar a la pérdida permanente del pelo. Se distinguen las alopecias primarias, en las que el folículo piloso es el blanco específico del proceso destructor y las alopecias secundarias, que son el resultado de una destrucción no específica. Dentro del primer grupo se encuentran, las denominadas alopecias del tipo neutrofílicas, entre ellas:las foliculitisdecalvante y foliculitisdisecante o perifoliculitiscapitisabscedens et suffodiens. Se presentan a continuación, cuatro casos clínicos, tres con diagnóstico de foliculitisdecalvante y uno con foliculitisdisecante, en pacientes de sexo masculino, en edades comprendidas entre 21-39 años, con un retardo en el diagnóstico clínico-patológico entre 8 y 36 meses. Dos de ellos, obtuvieron una buena respuesta al tratamiento con isotretinoína vía oral, mientras que dos no regresaron a la consulta, por lo que se desconoce su evolución. Motiva este reporte,destacar la importancia de comunicar la necesidad deun diagnóstico precoz, con la finalidad de ofrecerles a los pacientes una respuesta terapéutica satisfactoria.

SUMMARY The cicatricialalopeciasinclude a heterogeneous group of disorders that lead to permanent hair loss. Primary alopecias are distinguished, in which the hair follicle is the specific target of the destructive process, and secondary alopecias, that are the result of a non-specific destruction. Within the first group are the so-called neutrophilic type alopecias, consisting of the folliculitis decalvans and dissecting folliculitis or perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens. Four clinical cases are presented below, three of them being diagnosed with folliculitis decalvans and one with dissecting folliculitis, in male patients, aged between 21-39 years, having a delay in clinical-pathological diagnosis between 8 and 36 months. Among these, two obtained a good response to treatment with isotretinoin orally, while the other pair did not return to the consultation, so their evolution is unknown.This report motivates the need for an early diagnosis in order to offer patients a satisfactory therapeutic response, which does not occur in later stages.

Lichen Planopilaris with Pustules: A Diagnostic Challenge.

INTRODUCTION: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a lymphocytic primary cicatricial alopecia presenting with scarring hair loss and variable degrees of perifollicular erythema and scaling. Pustules are infrequent and may mimic folliculitis decalvans (FD) and other forms of neutrophilic alopecia. We present a series of LPP cases with pustules and discuss the importance of differentiating them from primary neutrophilic folliculitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic, clinical, histopathological, and follow-up data of 13 cases of LPP with pustules followed at the Department of Dermatology of the University of São Paulo Medical School were described. RESULTS: Seven females and 6 males were included. Onset of signs and symptoms ranged from 23 to 61 years of age. Previous diagnoses were FD in 3 patients, pityriasis amiantacea in 2 cases, and folliculitis keloidalis nuchae in 1 case. Other 7 cases presented typical clinical features of LPP. DISCUSSION: There is limited data concerning LPP with pustules. Our analysis shows that LPP should be considered a differential diagnosis in patients with refractory folliculitis. Cautious examination of the entire scalp with dermoscopy and/or reevaluation after a course of antibiotics can avoid misdiagnosis. Further studies are required to establish the etiology of pustules in the setting of LPP.

Lichen planopilaris and frontal fibrosing alopecia cannot be differentiated by histopathology.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) represent 2 entities that cause primary cicatricial alopecia. These entities are clinically different; nevertheless, the literature suggests that FFA represents a form of LPP. The main argument in support of this hypothesis is that previous studies comparing the histologic findings have not found obvious differences between these diseases. METHODS: Our objective was to more critically compare and contrast 20 histologic findings of these diseases in a large number of patients in order to determine any significant histologic differences between LPP and FFA. RESULTS: We found 3 parameters that were statistically different, namely the presence of terminal catagen-telogen hairs (50% FFA vs 23.5% LPP; P = .020); a severe perifollicular inflammatory infiltrate (29.4% LPP vs 4.6% FFA; P = .010) and a zone of concentric lamellar fibroplasia (85.3% LPP vs 63.6% FFA; P = .041). CONCLUSIONS: Although a few histologic features differ between FFA and LPP, we believe that these differences are too subtle or non-specific to distinguish between them with confidence. Therefore, clinical correlation is essential to establish the diagnosis.

Trichoscopy of Dark Scalp.

Trichoscopy (dermoscopy of the hair and scalp) is a technique that improves diagnostic accuracy and follow-up with hair and scalp disorders. Although several studies of trichoscopy have been made in Caucasian and Asian populations, little has been published regarding trichoscopy findings in skin of color, despite the great prevalence of hair diseases in populations with this kind of skin. The aim of this review was to describe the trichoscopic features of normal scalp and of hair disorders in patients with dark skin phototypes. This will help dermatologists to distinguish between unique trichoscopic features of dark skin, and allow them to provide more accurate diagnoses and treatments for these patients.

The Use of Direct Immunofluorescence in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) differs from lichen planopilaris (LPP) in many clinical aspects, but histology fails to distinguish between these entities. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is a diagnostic technique used for autoimmune diseases, including those affecting skin and hair. OBJECTIVE: To characterize DIF patterns in patients with FFA. METHOD: Data was collected retrospectively from FFA cases presenting to the Centre de Santé Sabouraud Hair Clinic in Paris from November 2013 to November 2014. RESULTS: Of 149 patients with FFA, 44 cases underwent DIF. Thirteen cases showed positive results with DIF. Patterns characteristic of LPP and lupus erythematosus were observed, with nearly half showing nonspecific staining. CONCLUSION: DIF patterns in patients with FFA were variable. This diagnostic technique should be used with caution in cases of cicatricial alopecia, particularly FFA.

Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Coexisting with Lupus Erythematosus: Poor Response to Hydroxychloroquine.

Lupus erythematosus, especially the discoid form, and lichen planopilaris may be associated and can occur in different topographies (coexistence) or in the same lesion (lupus eythematosus/lichen planus overlap syndrome). Frontal fibrosing alopecia is considered a variant form of lichen planopilaris and is characterized by frontotemporal hairline and eyebrow involvement. Of the association with lupus erythematosus we have only a few descriptions. Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine diphosphate are antimalarial drugs described as viable treatment options for both diseases, due to an antilymphocytic effect. The association between frontal fibrosing alopecia and lupus erythematosus (discoid or systemic) is reported in this article, showing a progressive alopecia in the frontotemporal hairline despite treatment with hydroxychloroquine.

An Overlap of Secondary Cutis Verticis Gyrata, Folliculitis Decalvans, Folliculitis Keloidalis Nuchae and the Use of Dreadlocks: The Role of Inflammation due to Traction.

We report a 29-year-old black male with cutis verticis gyrata, folliculitis decalvans and folliculitis keloidalis nuchae confirmed by biopsy. He had been using dreadlocks for 5 years before the appearance of the lesions. An activation of the different fibroblast growth factor members may explain the development of hyperproliferation of collagen, fibrosis and keloid lesions. We suggest a hypothesis of a common pathogenesis for the three conditions in a genetically predisposed patient. Inflammation and traction caused by the dreadlocks can act as a possible trigger factor.