A multicenter descriptive analysis of 270 men with frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris in the United States

Abstract

To the Editor: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) are forms of primary lymphocytic cicatricial alopecia characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the follicular unit causing irreversible hair loss if untreated. 1 Sundberg J.P. Hordinsky M.K. Bergfeld W. et al. Cicatricial Alopecia Research Foundation meeting, May 2016: progress towards the diagnosis, treatment and cure of primary cicatricial alopecias. Exp Dermatol. 2018; 27: 302-310https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.13495 Crossref PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar Epidemiologic studies of LPP/FFA are lacking but it is thought that the incidence is increasing globally. 2 Tosti A. Bergfeld W.F. Christiano A.M. et al. Response from the American Hair Research Society to “sunscreen and frontal fibrosing alopecia: a review“. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020; 82: 729-730https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2019.10.032 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (5) Google Scholar Men with LPP/FFA are increasingly reported in the literature, challenging the paradigm that LPP/FFA is a disease of postmenopausal women. 3 Doche I. Nico M.M.S. Gerlero P. et al. Clinical features and sex hormone profile in male patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia: a multicenter retrospective study with 33 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021; 86: 1176-1178https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2021.04.076 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (3) Google Scholar ,4 Lobato-Berezo A. Iglesias-Sancho M. Rodríguez-Lomba E. et al. Frontal fibrosing alopecia in men: a multicenter study of 39 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021; 86: 481-484https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2021.09.033 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (1) Google Scholar This multicenter descriptive study is the first to characterize LPP/FFA among men in the United States.