Cicatricial Alopecia
Cicatricial alopecia is one of the most destructive hair loss conditions that exists. It's defined as a hair loss condition that causes damage to hair follicles so that strands of hair are replaced by strands of scar tissue. There are several medical conditions that can be involved in this disease process. The images below illustrate the various way an individual's scalp can be effected.
You can be affected by a variety of medical conditions that can cause injury and destruction of hair follicles. Some of these conditions may be associated with symptoms such as itching or irritation or soreness, but with others you can lose hair and develop scarring without knowing that it is going on. Sometimes you will have a bald spot or area of hair loss detected by your hair stylist without your knowing that it was there.
This condition has become more common over the past 10-15 years especially related to more frequent practices of using hair extensions and bonding glues on the scalp.
There are three main contributing factors to this type of balding.
Causes of Cicatricial Alopecia
Trauma, infection and various skin diseases may injure the hair follicle resulting in localized areas of scarring and bald patches in which there are no visible follicles.
- Trauma: Hair can be pulled out by tight curlers or certain hair styles, especially black women’s hair styles, sometimes resulting in permanently thinned areas (traction alopecia). The scalp can also be injured by heat (hair dryers), or chemicals (perming solutions or bleach or glues or dyes).
Infections that may cause it include Staphylococcal
folliculitis or
boils , and animal ringworm infection
(
tinea capitis ).
Skin diseases that may it include: central centrifigual scarring alopecia (CCSA), folliculitis decalvans , lichen planopilaris , frontal fibrosing alopecia , alopecia mucinosa , discoid lupus erythematosus , sarcoidosis, cicatricial pemphigoid, alopecia neoplastica, and scleroderma . Scarring hair loss of unknown cause is known as pseudopelade.
The Cicatricial Alopecia Research Foundation
(www.CARFintl.com) is an organization that has been created to help support research and find a cure for this problematic condition. Visit their website for additional information.
Cicatricial Alopecia Photos
Early Version
Scarring is just beginning and hair growth is beginning to get thinner.
Progressive Version
A definite bald spot with scar tissue is present which can lead to placing a hair attachment to hide the baldness.
Advanced Version
Progressive baldness and loss of hair has taken place with severe permanent hair loss.
One of the goals of BlackHairMedicalExpert.com is to detect, diagnose, and treat thinning hair and hair loss early
to prevent permanent baldness!!!
Complete the information box below if you would like to:
1) Ask Dr. Weaver a question or
2) Tell Your story about Hair Loss or Other Scalp Conditions
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
SAD BALD WOMAN 
I have been bald for at least 5 years, over the years it has messed with me mentalley and i get so mad at myself.
i have high blood pressure and also …
btimberlake@durhamcountync.gov
I have baldness in the crown of my cranial area and on the right and left side of the temple area. Can you help me.
RESPONSE
There are many possibilities …
Mrs. Alberson
Dear Dr. Weaver,
Years ago I was diagnosed with Cicatricial Alopecia. I had a biopsy done and all the testing neccessary. Through the years, I've …
Lenora
Hi Dr. Weaver,
I'm a patient of yours that is being treated for hair loss. My hair loss looks a lot like the pictures on the Cicatricial Alopecia page, …
SHAWN,RN
I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MY HAIR LOST FOR SOMETIME. I WENT TO A DERMATOLOGIST FOR A FEW VISITS. AFTER A BIOPSY HE WAS DONE, I JUST WAS GIVEN THE NAME …
23 year old blackwoman
My story started close to 9yrs ago,when I first started to have thinning in the top of my scalp and I thought it may have been caused by over processing …
MSMe
I have thinning and some baldness in the crown of my head. I used to get cornrow extensions quite a bit because of previous problems with hair growth. …
sj
Well I have braids in my hair. One day I just got this pain on the left side of my head. When I touched the spot it was smooth but very sore. It almost …
Sensitive Not rated yet
PLEASE HELP !!!! I was diagnosed with CCCA Alopecia, 2yrs ago, by a dermatologist, once she examined my hair that day, she (dermatologist) knew what is …
Miss Jacy Peterson Not rated yet
I have female pattern baldness & I'm on medicine from the dermatologist , what can I do to speed the process up ? I have patches in the crown area , I'm …
Sharon Miles Not rated yet
The crown of my head has been bald at the top due to trauma from having a hair piece glued in and removed incorrectly over a decade ago.Recently my hair …
Thinning and bald spots on crown of head and temples Not rated yet
I have always had thick long and healthy until 4 years ago, my beautician noticed a small ball spot in the crown of my head. I also noticed a bald spot …
Can ringworm virus remain in blood stream undetected and untreated.? Not rated yet
I move in to an appointment with the former renters, were dog owners. I was told that the carpet was shampoo and I even had it shampooed myself. But my …
Mrs. Angela Bolden Not rated yet
Well I have the condition Lichen Planopalaris. I was diagnosis with the autoimmune disease March 2020. I was told that it was a rare disease, the white …
Cicatricial Alopecia Not rated yet
Over ten years ago I noticed a small bald spot in the crown of my head. I went to a Dermatologist who gave me steroids injections in my scalp. My hair …
Cassanthia penn Not rated yet
I was diagnosed with alopecia ten years ago received b12 injections helped some once I stopped hair loss began again. Also used women's minoxidil it seemed …
hair loss Not rated yet
hello i am 49 female and in good health. the front side of my head left and right side have started to bald with moles in that area of my head. my neck …
MrsMotivated Not rated yet
I started losing my hair about 4 years ago. The hair loss was a slow progression. However, finding out what was causing the baldness took time and ultimately …
Cicatricial alopecia Not rated yet
Hi,
This is a photo of my mum's hair. As you can see she's got very thin hair on top. She's 67 years old. Is there anything she can do to help her …
Mystery in PA Not rated yet
Hello Dr. Weaver,
I am an African American female (27 years old) who is currently battling the onset of hairloss.
A few years ago I began to notice …
