LostEyebrows.org

Research

Websites

DermNet (link) provides the most useful summary, including photographs of other FFA patients.

Academic papers

These are ordered chronologically, most recent first.

  • Frattini, Sidney, ‘Is there a rationale for the Use of Lymecycline for Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia?’, Dermatology Practical & Conceptual (2024), https://doi.org/10.5826/DPC.1401A18 – Says lymecycline may be helpful.
  • Ly N., E. M. McClure, M. K. Hordinsky, P. S. Farah, S. Y. Park, ‘Safety and Efficacy of Minoxidil Treatment in Scarring Alopecia: A Scoping Review’, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, (2024), https://doi.org/10.36849/jdd.7743 – Concluded that Minoxidil (in different forms) showed some promise in treating scarring alopecia, but more research was needed.
  • Trejo-Castro, Alejandro I. ‘Frontal fibrosing alopecia: is sunscreen the culprit? A systematic review’, Iranian Journal of Dermatology (2024), https://doi.org/10.22034/IJD.2024.405696.172 – Says more research is needed to determine whether reaction to sunscreen is a consequence or a cause.
  • Yossef S. M., J. C. English 3rd, ‘Attenuation of disease process following treatment with low-dose naltrexone in patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris: A retrospective study’, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2024), https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(24)00499-7/ – Letter to editor, supporting use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for FFA.
  • Siliuk, Tatiana, ‘Guidelines for clinical trials of frontal fibrosing alopecia: consensus recommendations from the International FFA Cooperative Group (IFFACG)’, British Journal of Dermatology (2021), https://doi.org/10.1111/BJD.20567 – Discussion regarding standards for assessment and diagnosis.
  • Lis-Święty, A., L. Brzezińska-Wcisło, ‘Frontal fibrosing alopecia: a disease that remains enigmatic’, Advances in Dermatology and Allergology (2020) https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2020.98241 – A thorough review of the disease and other studies, looking at other auto-immune conditions patients may also have, reinforcing how important it is to achieve an early diagnosis.
  • Ho, A., J. Shapiro, ‘Medical therapy for frontal fibrosing alopecia: a review and clinical approach’, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2019.03.079 – Looks at success of intralesional steroids (injected) and 5α-reductase inhibitors (oral treatment) as positive treatments for slowing or arresting hair loss.
  • Okereke, U. R., A. Simmons, V. D. Callender, ‘Current and emerging treatment strategies for hair loss in women of colour’, International Journal of Women’s Dermatology (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2018.10.021 – Looks at a range of alopecias in women of colour, including FFA.
  • Tavakolpour S., H. Mahmoudi, R. Abedini, K. Kamyab Hesari, A. Kiani, M. Daneshpazhooh, ‘Frontal fibrosing alopecia: an update on the hypothesis of pathogenesis and treatment’, International Journal of Women’s Dermatology (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2018.11.003 – A thorough review of the latest research and thinking on causes and treatment for FFA.
  • Valesky E. M., M. D. Maier, R. Kaufmann, N. Zöller, M. Meissner, ‘Single-center analysis of patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia: evidence for hypothyroidism and a good quality of life’, Journal of International Medical Research (2019), https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060518807335 – A study of 12 women (mean age 70) – found no correlation between the extent of FFA and Quality of Life (QoL) or atopic predisposition; and a strong correlation between the incidence of thyroid disease and FFA.
  • Kumaran M. S., T. M. Razmi, K. Vinay, D. Parsad, ‘Clinical, dermoscopic, and trichoscopic analysis of frontal fibrosing alopecia associated with acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation: a cross sectional observational case-control study’, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.03.001 – Letter to the editor with results of study of 19 Asian sufferers of FFA against control group; suggests contact allergy to hair dye and facial cosmetics play a role in its causation.
  • Pirmez, R., T. Barreto, B. Duque-Estrada, D. C. Quintella, T. Cuzzi, ‘Histopathology of facial papules in frontal fibrosing alopecia and therapeutic response to oral isotretinoin’, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.038 – Letter to editor regarding Pedrosa’s research and their own on facial papules, and isotretinoin as a treatment.
  • Aldoori, N., K. Dobson, C. R. Holden, A. J. McDonagh, M. Harries, A. G. Messenger, ‘Frontal fibrosing alopecia: possible association with leave-on facial skin care products and sunscreens; a questionnaire study’, British Journal of Dermatology (2016), https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.14535 – Study of 105 women with FFA (plus controls) raised the possibility of a causative role for sunscreen chemicals.
  • Callender, V. D., S. D. Reid, O. Obayan, L. Mcclellan, L. Sperling, ‘Diagnostic Clues to Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia in Patients of African Descent’, Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology (2016), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27721910/ – Found FFA does occur in patients of African descent (and is distinct from traction alopecia).
  • Vano-Galvan, Sergio, and others, ‘Frontal fibrosing alopecia: A multicenter review of 355 patients’, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2014), https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JAAD.2013.12.003 – Useful survey of selection of patients to identify common denominators.
  • Kossard S., ‘Postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia. Scarring alopecia in a pattern distribution’, Archives of Dermatology (1994), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8002649 – An early study looking at FFA in 6 postmenopausal women, comparing it to lichen planopilaris.