Decoding Hair Loss: Exploring the Differences between Scarring and Non-Scarring Alopecia Article Summary by Soneet Dhillon, MS | MD Candidate | Chicago Medical School Scarring versus Non-Scarring Alopecia: An Interobserver Histopathological Reproducibility Study Distinguishing between scarring and non-scarring alopecia, is difficult clinically even with trichoscopic (dermoscopy imaging of hair) evaluations. Histopathology (hair biopsy studies) can be [...]
Rethinking Hair Loss Treatment: How a Diabetes Drug Measures Up to a Topical Corticosteroid for Lichen Planopilaris Article Summary by Michael Buontempo, MS4 | MD Candidate | Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Lichen Planopilaris (LPP) is a type of hair loss that causes scarring, driven by inflammation of hair follicles, mainly lymphocytes (a type of white [...]
DPP4 Inhibitors: A Potential Tool for Hair Growth and Reducing Fibrosis Article Summary by Michael Buontempo, MS4 | MD Candidate | Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Elevated levels of a protein called Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) have been linked to issues like halted hair growth and skin fibrosis, conditions often seen in alopecia.1 To [...]
Platelet-rich Plasma in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia
Platelet-rich Plasma in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) Commentary by Tejashri Venkatesh | MD Candidate 2025 | Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a preparation of concentrated platelets found in plasma obtained by centrifugation of blood (Figure I)1. It contains growth factors and proteins implicated in tissue repair and regeneration2,3. [...]
Oral Low-Dose Naltrexone in the Treatment of FFA and LPP
Oral Low-Dose Naltrexone in the Treatment of FFA and LPP Article Summary by Wonder Edem, MS3 | MD Candidate | University of California, Riverside School of Medicine Lichen planopilaris (LPP) and Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA) are one of the most common forms of scarring hair loss. Considering limited treatments for both LPP and FFA, [...]
Low-level Light Therapy in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia
Low-level Light Therapy in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia Article summary by Tejashri Venkatesh | MD Candidate 2025 | Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin UniversityLow-level light therapy (LLLT), also known as photobiomodulation therapy, has long been utilized for its healing and restorative properties in the human body1. While it was FDA-approved as a treatment for androgenetic [...]
Frontal fibrosing alopecia and sunscreen use: a cross-sectional study of actinic damage
Frontal fibrosing alopecia and sunscreen use: a cross-sectional study of actinic damage Article summary by Tejashri Venkatesh | MD Candidate 2025 | Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University The association between frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) and sunscreen use is highly controversial1-4. Patients with FFA report higher rates of sunscreen use than control subjects5-7, [...]
Are Patients with Lichen Planopilaris at an Elevated Risk of Developing Other Diseases?
Are Patients with Lichen Planopilaris at an Elevated Risk of Developing Other Diseases? Review of article: Prevalence and incidence of comorbid diseases and mortality risk associated with lichen planopilaris: a Korean nationwide population-based study by Lim et al. Article summary by Ogechi Ezemma | MD Candidate 2024 | The Warren Alpert Medical School of [...]
Hair regrowth in 2 patients with recalcitrant central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia after use of topical metformin
Hair regrowth in 2 patients with recalcitrant central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia after use of topical metformin Article Summary by Soneet Dhillon, MS | MD Candidate | Chicago Medical School Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a poorly understood type of scarring hair loss that occurs primarily in African American women, often without overt signs [...]
Dutasteride for patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia
Dutasteride for patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia Article summary by Ogechi Ezemma | MD Candidate 2024 | The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a scarring hair loss that is characterized by hairline regression and loss of hair elsewhere on the body, such as the eyebrows.1 Currently, there [...]