Cicatricial alopecia - permanent hair loss

06/09/18

In the text below, read all about permanent hair loss

Cicatricial alopecia belongs to the group of rare but serious hair loss disorders and unfortunately leads to permanent hair loss. Cicatricial alopecia is a disorder also known as "scarring alopecia".

The hair follicle tissue is destroyed and replaced by scar tissue. Hair loss can be gradual and last for years without going unnoticed. On the other hand, it can be sudden and there can be a pronounced hair loss in just a few months with severe itching, pain and burning. Inflammation that destroys hair follicles is below the surface of the skin and mostly no scar is seen on the surface. Areas affected by cicatricial alopecia may show small signs of inflammation, or redness, changes, increased or decreased pigmentation, or other abnormalities.

Types of cicatricial alopecia

Cicatricial alopecia is not hereditary, nor is it contagious, and it occurs in healthy people (both men and women) of all ages, around the world. There are primary and secondary. In the case of the primary, the hair follicles are the target of a destructive inflammatory process, while in the case of the secondary, there is some external trauma such as infection, burns, radiation, tumors or surgery.

Expertise of the doctor in the first place

Scarring alopecia is not easy to diagnose and then treat. The clinical picture can often be atypical. One of the biggest problems with this condition is misdiagnosis and treatment of patients with androgenic alopecia.