Reginald Mzudumile Ngwanya

Background: The term cicatricial alopecia represents a poorly understood group of disorders characterized by a common final pathway of replacements of the follicular structure by fibrous tissue.¹ In most cases the cause of primary cicatricial alopecia is not known.

Environmental factors may play a role in the development of cicatricial alopecias.  In central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, originally called “hot-comb alopecia” heat from hot combing was thought to be the factor responsible for this condition.²   Staphylococcal aureus infection is thought to be responsible in lesions of folliculitis decalvans.³ 

Aim:  A pilot study looking at patients who presented with primary cicatricial alopecia (according to the classification of the North American Hair Research Society NAHRS)⁴ to try and answer the question whether hair care practices are responsible for some of these conditions.

·        Patients were selected randomly from patients attending hair clinic

·      Clinically patients had cicatricial alopecia

·        Controls:  patients attending clinic with no hair complaints

·        Questionnaire was administered of hair care practices according to the NAHRS⁴

Results:

·        Number of patients: 16  M=10  F=6

·        DIAGNOSIS:       acne keloid                                          6
                         folliculitis decalvans                              4
                         dissecting folliculitis                              5
                         central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia       1

The presentation will report on the preliminary results of the hair care practices with discussions of the findings.

References: 1. Headington JT. Cicatricial alopecia.  Dermatol Clin 1996;14:773-82. 2. Lo Presti P, Papa CM, Kligman AM. Hot Comb alopecia. Arch Dermatol 1968;98:934-38. 3. Whiting DA. Cicatricial alopecia: Clinico-pathological findings and treatment. Clin Dermatol 2001;19:211-25. 4. Olsen EA, Bergfeld W, Cotsarelis G et al; Summary of the North American Hair Research     Society  (NAHRS) Sponsored Workshop on Cicatricial Alopecia, Duke University Medical Center   February 10 and 11 2001. J AM Acad Dermatol 48:103-110,2003