Scarring Alopecias: Pathophysiology, Diagnostic Clues, and Medical Treatment Options
Scarring alopecias in skin of color are increasingly recognized and remain a major cause of irreversible hair loss. During the 2025 Skin of Color Update in New York City, Susan C. Taylor, MD, presented an updated clinical approach to identifying and managing lichen planopilaris (LPP), frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) with a focus on early detect …
Scarring alopecias in skin of color are increasingly recognized and remain a major cause of irreversible hair loss. During the 2025 Skin of Color Update in New York City, Susan C. Taylor, MD, presented an updated clinical approach to identifying and managing lichen planopilaris (LPP), frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) with a focus on early detect … 
Slate recently published a first-person account of fibrosing alopecia in a pattern direction (FAPD) in the article, “I’m 25, and I Have a Cosmetic Problem That No One Wants – and That’s Maddening to Fix.” The article details the writer’s years-long experience with hair thinning, and how it took until an irregular blood test and scalp biopsy for an FAPD diagnosis. The writer’s treatme … 
ABSTRACT
Dyschromia is a concern for many patients, especially persons of color. Postinflammatory hypopigmentation and depigmentation can affect all skin types; however, it is more apparent in those with darker skin. Some members of the dermatology community may not comprehensively understand the mechanisms of these reactions and the extent of the psychosocial effect they have on persons of color … 
Next Steps in Derm, in partnership with Skin of Color Update, interviewed dermatologist Dr. Victoria Barbosa, associate professor at University of Chicago Medicine. Watch as Dr. Barbosa shares why it may be challenging for an alopecia patient to visit a dermatologist and why it’s important to address the psychological burden of hair loss. Hear how considering a broad differential is essential t … 
At ODAC 2023, we had the opportunity to learn about cicatricial alopecias from renowned dermatologist and hair expert Dr. Amy McMichael, Professor of Dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
First, we considered a framework to check for cicatricial alopecias. This is particularly important because if we can identify cicatricial alopecia, we can make sure we are treating the rig …