Symptoms Of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, Causes, Treaments
Hair loss from the scalp surrounding the forehead and the brows and armpits is a common symptom of FFA. This condition is thought to be caused by hormonal fluctuations or autoimmune diseases or reactions in the body (2). On the other hand, this unfavorable condition can be addressed and slowed using clinical, therapeutic, and medical procedures and treatments. Maintaining a proper lifestyle and eating a balanced diet is necessary to battle hair loss.
But before you begin treating this common issue you need to be able to recognize it. Check out the section below to read about the various symptoms of frontal fibrosing alopecia.
Symptoms Of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia
Itchy scalp
This is the most common symptom that individuals develop, where they experience constant itchiness on the scalp or even pain.
Rashes
Rashes on the scalp, face, or hairline can indicate FFA. These rashes may appear as small red or light yellow bumps.
Eyebrow Loss
A significant loss of eyebrows is often associated with frontal fibrosing alopecia. You may notice thinner brows or hair loss on the eyebrow edges.
Receding Hairline
A band of a slightly lighter shade of skin on the forehead may indicate a receding hairline. Understanding the causes of this hair condition is the first step towards fixing the aforementioned symptoms and the overall issue. Learn more in the next section.
Causes
Various factors cause general hair loss. Unhealthy diet and lifestyle, physiological and psychological stress resulting in telogen effluvium, improper hair care etiquette or hair styling practices, hormonal changes, scalp infection, illness, and medications, among others, cause hair loss. However, hormonal changes in the body and scalp and genetic factors are known to be the prime cause for male or female pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia as well as alopecia areata. The male hormone called dihydrotestosterone or DHT is an androgen that is majorly responsible for frontal balding(1). DHT is responsible for development of manly attributes in males. A very small percentage of DHT is also found in women. Increased level of this hormone in women also causes development of androgynous male secondary sex characteristics, like facial hair, while also prompting sudden hair fall (3). DHT gets attached to the androgen receptors present in the dermal papillai A group of mesenchymal cells (cells developing into connective and lymphatic tissues and blood vessels) found under the hair follicle. of the hair follicles and inhibits the proper hair growth. This androgen prevents efficient absorption of growth nutrients from the blood by the papilla causing nutrient deficiencies. This consequently restricts the optimal nourishment of the hair and stops the growth of the hair shaft. Increased level of DHT hormone in the scalp is genetically programmed to cause miniaturizing or shrinkage of the hair follicles. This hampers the creation of new hair follicles thereby leading to reduced hair growth, thinning and loss of hair due to follicle degradation. Thus regulating the levels of DHT in the body and restricting the androgen reception by the hair follicles is essential in solving the problem of frontal balding.
Treatments
Maintaining an appropriate lifestyle, healthy diet and remaining stress free by practicing yoga and meditation can help to naturally tackle the general hair loss issue and FFA problem. Boosting the immune system and keeping illnesses at bay is prerequisite for healthy hair. Use of hot hair treatments, styling tools, chemicals and stressful and tight hairstyling should be avoided as these easily cause the frontal hair to fall easily. Dandruff and other scalp infections along with scalp dehydration leads to blockage of hair follicles by excess sebumi An oily substance produced by the skin to keep it moisturized which, in excess, may cause greasy hair and scalp acne. and scalp build up. This leads to insufficient nourishment of the hair which causes weakening of the hair root and eventually loss of hair (4). Hence one should use anti dandruff shampoos and treatments, like nizoral and head & shoulders, to cleanse the scalp and keep it infection free. Hormonal levels should be regulated and controlled in the body and frontal hair loss treated by use of medicinal drugs, treatments and surgeries like:
Scalp Surgery
Techniques like scalp flab, hair transplant,FUE treatmenti A hair restoration surgery that involves extracting hair follicles from the back of the head and implanting them on the bald area. , hair growth and restructuring have been used to deal with the frontal hair loss issue. According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery’s 2022 Practice Census Survey Results, it was estimated 149,254 surgical hair restoration procedures were conducted in the United States and Canada in 2021. Globally, the number of patients undergoing surgical hair restoration procedures reached 628,604. Approximately 87.3% of these procedures were performed on male patients, with the remaining 12.7% being performed on female patients. It is an expensive treatment and should only be resorted to on recommendation of a doctor in case of chronic FFA.
Minoxidil
This topical lotion or foam needs to be rubbed on the affected region of the scalp every day. This rub on treatment is best to stop and prevent hair loss and to further delay balding. It also promotes regrowth of hair. Favorable results are visible 4 months after the start of the treatment. This is an expensive treatment and hence should be resorted to only on the advice of a doctor or a medical practitioner (5).
Finasteride
This medicine works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone of DHT. The decrease in the level of DHT thus positively affects the pores to expand back to their normal size and therefore strengthen the hair and prevent hair loss. Consuming 1 tablet of finasteride each day helps to stop hair loss and promote regrowth of hair. The effect of this medicine is observed 4 months after starting the medication process while it can take up to 2 year for full hair growth to occur (6). Batrah, a blogger, shared his emotional challenges with frontal and central baldness. He tried remedies like minoxidil and onion juice but to no avail. After facing much internal anguish, he set on the path to accept his reality, stating, “Slowly n slowly I started accepting the fate ..I started accepting my baldness. ‘My baldness gives me strength’ were the words by Zinedine Zidane, the 1998 fifa world cup hero.I gave up on my baldness and finally regaining my lost confidence after accepting it (i).” Can you regrow frontal hair? As long as the hair follicles have not been damaged, you can regrow frontal hair. Can frontal balding be reversed? No. Currently, there are no solutions to reverse frontal balding. Is finasteride better than minoxidil for the frontal hairline? Both finasteride and minoxidil may help promote hair growth. They give the best results when used together for hairline recession. However, you should not self-medicate as improper use of these medicines may cause irritation and other adverse effects.
Illustration: Frontal Hair Loss: Causes And How To Treat It
Hair loss at 20 can be a scary experience. This video will help you manage hair loss and thinning safely without surgery. Learn how to keep your hair healthy and strong.
