Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a rare hair loss condition that causes both progressive hair loss and permanent scarring across your hairline. It can be simply devastating to a person’s mental health and self-esteem.
Though often presenting as postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia, younger men and women can still develop the condition. And every year, more and more patients present themselves with symptoms.
If you’re currently suffering from FFA and looking for answers, we’re here to help. This article will discuss front fibrosing alopecia in detail.
We’ll explain the condition’s common symptoms and treatment plans and what research tells us about its potential causes. We’ll also recommend ways to protect your hair and slow its progression, helping you to limit possible hair loss in the future.
What is frontal fibrosing alopecia?
Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a progressive hair loss condition mainly targeting your hairline, eyebrows, and temples.
Symptoms include hair thinning, a receding hairline, and bald patches developing in affected areas, including your eyebrows. Over time, this hair loss may spread to the back and sides of your head.
Because early symptoms are similar to other hair loss conditions like female pattern baldness, FFA can initially be quite difficult to distinguish. For that reason, visiting your doctor or dermatologist is highly recommended.
Research is still growing around frontal fibrosing alopecia, and we cannot say how or what triggers it, But we can compare it to similar-acting conditions.
A range of existing treatments has shown to be effective at alleviating symptoms. These include topical corticosteroids, oral and topical medication, and lifestyle changes.
What causes frontal fibrosing alopecia
Unfortunately, there is still so much we don’t know about the causes of frontal fibrosing alopecia. This can make it challenging to determine the exact cause and find the appropriate treatment, especially early on.
As a form of lichen planopilaris (scarring alopecia), FFA acts like an autoimmune disease, where your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, mainly the hair follicles.
There are some causes currently being investigated. Both doctors and scientists have theories that the root cause of FFA may include:
Genetics
Scientists are investigating whether people have a genetic predisposition to rare diseases like FFA. If someone in your family has been diagnosed, this can increase your likelihood. Women of African descent may show symptoms earlier than other ethnicities.
Environmental triggers
Some people believe that exposure to harsh chemicals commonly found in dyes, paints, and even pesticides might trigger scarring hair loss. Sun exposure, infections, and viruses may also trigger it.
Hormonal changes
Because FFA affects women more than men, some believe it is linked to hormonal changes, such as when on birth control, following pregnancy or menopause, or suffering from pre-existing conditions like female pattern baldness.
Lifestyle triggers
Long periods of stress can release harmful hormones that affect hair growth and quality. It is thought that stress may trigger the autoimmune reaction many people report when diagnosed with FFA.
Medication
Because many link FFA with your immune system, it’s thought that certain medications can have adverse effects on your body and trigger the condition, especially with cholesterol and high blood pressure treatments.
Symptoms of frontal fibrosing alopecia
Specific characteristics of FFA set it apart from other hair loss conditions. The most common is the developing patchy areas of hair loss with small scarring along the scalp, hair margin, and temples. Over time, the hairline may recede further back, and hair begins to thin considerably across the scalp.
You may also experience severe itchiness, tenderness and feel burning in and around your frontal hairline. Other symptoms include scalp inflammation, skin scaling, and general irritation in the affected area.
Small, yellow-colored bumps, known as facial papules, may appear. These bumps have no visible hair follicle opening and can be mistaken for sun damage. Oral isotretinoin can be used to reduce their appearance.
Finally, you may notice a change in hair quality, texture, and strength. FFA can cause hair to become brittle and fragile and can snap off easily from your hair. You may notice more hair loss following simple things like brushing or showering.
Unfortunately, FFA is a progressive condition, meaning that as time moves on, it can get increasingly worse for patients. You may experience extensive hair loss or even complete baldness. For that reason, seeking medical advice and treatment is highly recommended.
Your doctor or dermatologist may prescribe various medications and topical treatments to alleviate scalp irritation, help replenish your hair, and slow its progression.
How is frontal fibrosing alopecia diagnosed?
A dermatologist is the best person to formally diagnose frontal fibrosing alopecia. They will conduct several tests on your hair follicles and look for diagnostic clues.
As a variation of lichen planopilaris, one of the easiest and most effective tests is the hair pull test, where your dermatologist pulls about forty strands gently.
They will then examine how many strands fell out. Six or more is usually a sign of a hair loss condition and will require further attention.
Your dermatologist will also closely examine the pattern distribution of hair loss across your scalp, hairline, and other body areas. They may also ask you about your family history, including a history of hair loss conditions or autoimmune diseases.
Finally, your dermatologist may conduct a small skin biopsy. This perfectly safe procedure gives your doctors more information about your skin’s health.
They will remove a small amount of skin tissue in areas where hair grows under local anesthetic and examine the biopsy under a microscope.
Frontal fibrosing alopecia treatment
Following your diagnosis, your dermatologist will discuss the various treatment options for fibrosing alopecia. Depending on your current condition, they might recommend the following:
- Topical medication: Though not a cure, topical medications like Minoxidil can greatly slow hair loss progression. That said, you will need to continue treatment to maintain results.
- Oral medication: In severe cases, prescriptions like finasteride or spironolactone may be effective. These both work on a biological level, blocking the sex hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from being produced. They have side effects you must be aware of before starting treatment.
- Lifestyle changes: Simple changes can protect your hair follicles and prevent future hair loss. Eating a more nutritious diet, managing stress, and exercising can help improve your health and well-being. Additionally, avoiding using heat-styling devices and harsh chemical treatments and wearing tight hairstyles can reduce your chances of developing traction alopecia.
Vitamins for frontal fibrosing alopecia
Vitamins are essential for a healthy body, including your hair. They can help prevent and treat symptoms of frontal fibrosing alopecia, so improving your intake is highly recommended.
So what vitamins should you focus on? Vitamin A is one of the most important, as it’s known to help produce sebum, which keeps skin and hair hydrated.
Vitamin D can also help frontal fibrosing alopecia because it helps stimulate hair follicles to grow and support new strands. A Vitamin D deficiency is often linked to different forms of alopecia.
Vitamin E is also considered incredibly important, as it has antioxidant properties that help reduce inflammation, thus improving growing conditions for hair follicles.
As well as improving your diet, you may consider taking vitamin supplements to improve your daily and weekly intake. Always consult with your doctor beforehand for their advice and recommendations.
How do I take care of myself with frontal fibrosing alopecia?
It can be an incredibly stressful and emotional thing to lose your hair. It’s important to remember that help and support are available at every step of your journey.
One of the most effective things you can do early on is to join an alopecia support group. This will allow you to share your experiences and learn from others in a safe, caring environment. You can also talk to your family, friends, doctor, or therapist for emotional support.
You can also make simple styling changes to help alleviate symptoms, such as avoiding heat styling tools like straighteners and curling tongs, tight hairstyles that pull on your strands, and hair dyes and perms.
When should you see a doctor?
When you experience sudden or severe hair or eyebrow loss, visit your doctor immediately. Getting a formal diagnosis will ensure that you start effective treatment early and that you can limit or even prevent further hair loss from taking place.
FAQ
Although fibrosing alopecia is still fairly uncommon, many people are diagnosed worldwide yearly. As time passes, we will learn more about the condition and develop better treatments and clinical trials.
Depending on the treatment you undergo, you can expect to see noticeable improvements from treatment within six to 18 months.
Unfortunately, there are no ways to lower the likelihood of developing frontal fibrosing alopecia. That said, starting treatment as soon as signs and symptoms develop and limiting adverse environmental factors can reduce the condition’s progression, slowing down any potential hair loss.
Every person is unique, and experiences with rare diseases like frontal fibrosing alopecia can vary greatly. Some people may suffer a receding hairline or balding in patches or zigzag patterns; for others, hair loss might stop spontaneously.
Hair that has fallen out will most likely be permanent. Early treatments for frontal fibrosing alopecia can help reduce hair loss considerably.
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