Primary Cicatricial Alopecia

What is Primary Cicatricial Alopecia or Scarring Alopecia?

Scarring alopecia is a group of rare hair disorders in which the follicles are permanently destroyed and replaced with a scar tissue, leaving patchy hair loss. The disease may go unnoticed for years or may quickly advance within a few months. Some of the symptoms are hair loss, redness, dandruffs and acne in the affected area. In some rapidly advancing cases, itching, burning and pain may be experienced. The disease is not infectious neither is it hereditary; it affects both men and women of any age.

The disease is categorized in two different types:

• Primary Cicatricial Alopecia:- the disease directly destroys hair follicles
• Secondary Cicatricial Alopecia :- the follicles are indirectly destroyed by factors such as accidents, burns, trauma, radiation and infections.

Primary cicatricial alopecia if further categorized as lymphocytic, neutrophilic and mixed types:

• Lymphocytic
• Lenfositik:- Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus, lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, Graham Little syndrome, classic psödopelad, central centrifugal scarring alopecia, alopecia mucinous, Keratosis follicularis spinuloz decalvans
• Neutrophilic: – folliculitis decalvans, dissecting cellulitis
• Mixed – acne keloidalis, acne necrotic

What are the causes of cicatricial Alopecia?

In Primary cicatricial alopecia, the stem cells in hair follicles are directly and permanently damaged but the cause is not fully known. There are many causes of secondary cicatricial alopecia such as fire, accidents, chemicals, surgery e.t.c. Primary cicatricial alopecia affects both men and women of any age, but less in children. There is no scientific research done on the prevalence of the disorder.

Are there any other diseases that come with cicatricial alopecia?

No there aren’t any diseases that come along with it. In fact, it affects healthy men and women.

How is cicatricial alopecia diagnosed?

Diagnosis of the scalp biopsyis important. The biopsy should also be examined by a dermatologist.

What is the treatment of cicatricial alopecia?

The treatment stops the spreading of the disease but does not regenerate new hair. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment the less the damage to the scalp. The affected bald areas can be corrected by hair transplant or excision after careful examination.