Hair Transplantation by Follicular Unit Extraction in Cicatricial Alopecia in Children

Abstract

Cicatricial alopecias in children do not contribute to substantial pediatric consultations as they are relatively uncommon. Cicatricial alopecias are often missed in pediatric population as it is diagnostically and therapeutically challenging. No single treatment is usually effective and hence several off label treatments are used in children and adolescents with unknown safety and efficacy. Hair loss due to scarring may thus have a significant impact on the emotional well-being of young patients and diminishes the quality of life which often requires additional treatment. Traditional surgical treatments for cicatricial alopecia include excision, scar reduction, tissue expansion, scalp flap, and follicular unit transplantation. However, these procedures often result in unsightly scarring or unfavorable hair growth direction. Recently, hair grafting by follicular unit extraction (FUE) has now replaced the strip technique as it is minimally invasive, well-tolerated, and effective treatment for use in children and adolescents. However, use of this technique is limited in young patients. The article presents a comprehensive review of an effective surgical technique, i.e., FUE for the management of burnt-out inactive cicatricial alopecia in pediatric population. For the purpose of review, a PubMed search was done using keywords, “cicatricial alopecia,” “hair transplantation,” and “children.” All the articles were retrieved, and the final data were then analyzed and presented in a narrative fashion.