Factors influencing frontal fibrosing alopecia severity: a multicentre cross‐sectional study.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a primary scarring alopecia with a variable prognosis.[1] We previously analysed the 12-month progression of the disease in a cohort of 106 patients treated with oral dutasteride 0.5 mg three times weekly and topical clobetasol and observed that the age of the patient, age at diagnosis of the disease and the clinical pattern (linear, diffuse or pseudo-fringe pattern) were prognostic factors of hairline regression, which ranges from 0.1 to 2.6 cm according to previous studies.[[2]] In order to increase the external validity of those results, we conducted a multicentric study that analysed severity of the disease, measured by hairline regression, and the risk factors of FFA previously described.[5] Hairline regression was categorized into five stages (I-V) as previously reported.[1] Table shows treatment modalities of the patients; the combination of topical treatment (clobetasol propionate, tacrolimus and minoxidil) and oral dutasteride 0.5 mg three times a week was the most used therapy (82.4%). In conclusion, FFA severity seems to be associated with the age of the patient, age of onset of the disease, duration of the disease, low academic level and body mass index. [Extracted from the article]