A scarring inflammatory alopecia that can cause patchy permanent hair loss.
Lichen planopilaris is a primary scarring alopecia. It typically causes patchy hair loss with perifollicular scale, redness and symptoms such as itch, tenderness or burning. Once follicles are replaced by scar tissue, regrowth is unlikely in those areas, so treatment aims to calm inflammation and prevent spread. Trichoscopy may show perifollicular scaling and loss of follicular openings; biopsy can confirm the diagnosis. Treatments are individualised and may include potent topical steroids, steroid injections, hydroxychloroquine or other anti-inflammatory approaches under dermatology supervision.
Anastassakis K. Androgenetic Alopecia From A to Z, Vol. 2, Springer, 2022 — https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08057-9; DermNet: Trichoscopy of generalised noncicatricial hair loss — https://dermnetnz.org/topics/trichoscopy-of-generalised-noncicatricial-hair-loss; Anastassakis K. Androgenetic Alopecia From A to Z, Vol. 1, Springer, 2022 — https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76111-0
