Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: a subtype of lichen planopilaris in African descent?

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: a subtype of lichen planopilaris in African descent?

Sofia Antunes-Duarte 1, Rui Oliveira Soares 2

1 Dermatology and Venereology Department, Hospital de Santa Maria, Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal; Dermatology and Venereology University Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; 2 Department of Dermatology, Hospital CUF Descobertas. Lisbon, Portugal

Sofia Antunes-Duarte, Rui Oliveira Soares

La información completa de afiliaciones y autor de correspondencia está disponible en la versión original en PDF.

*Correspondence: Rui Oliveira Soares, Email not available

Abstract

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a lymphocytic scarring alopecia that predominantly affects middle-aged women of African descent. Despite its prevalence and impact, the disease remains underdiagnosed and understudied. Recent theories suggest that CCCA may be a subtype of lichen planopilaris occurring within a specific racial group, given their near-identical clinical and histological characteristics. This review article explores the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, trichoscopy, histology, and management of CCCA, emphasizing the similarities and differences between these two entities.

Keywords:  Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. Lichen planopilaris. Cicatricial alopecia. Lymphocytic alopecia.

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