Experts have warned that an increasing number of people are experiencing hidden hair loss, which causes hair to fall out from the eyebrows.
September is Alopecia Awareness Month, and alopecia areata is the most widely talked about topic, but in recent years the number of people experiencing frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) has increased.
This type of alopecia causes hair to fall out on the face, eyebrows, and entire hairline. A recent study by the National Library of Medicine revealed that 96% of people with this type of hair loss experience hair loss in their eyebrows.
Interestingly, FFA most commonly occurs in postmenopausal women, but this does not mean that younger women and men do not also experience this condition.
Louis Theroux recently debuted new eyebrows after switching to semi-permanent makeup to combat a form of hair loss.
The 53-year-old investigative documentary host revealed in 2023 that she lost her famous eyebrows after developing an autoimmune disease.
What is frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA)?
According to the British Association of Dermatologists, FFA is a type of cicatricial alopecia that affects the hair edges at the front of the scalp.
This occurs due to inflammation and destruction of the hair follicle. Hair loss may also occur from the scalp near the ears or from the eyebrows.
There are several factors that make women more likely to experience frontal fibrotic alopecia, not just women who have experienced menopause. It is commonly seen in people who:
Those suffering from rosacea
People with thyroid disease such as hypothyroidism
People who are related to FFA patients
people suffering from type 2 diabetes
Symptoms of FFA
In FFA, hair loss and scarring cause the sideburns on the scalp and the hairline on the forehead to recede. The skin on the affected scalp often appears normal, but it may appear pale and shiny, and hair follicles may not be visible.
According to Elithair hair surgeon Dr. Baliu, the main symptom of FFA is hair loss on the front and sides of the hairline, including the eyelashes and eyebrows.
This hair loss starts slowly but gets worse over time. Signs that appear on the skin include:
white and shining skin
Hyperpigmentation, dark brown or gray areas on the skin, face, and neck
Itchy skin: FFA patients may experience itching or discomfort on the skin of their scalp before noticeable hair loss occurs.
Small yellow or flesh-colored lumps near the hairline: Some people with FFA may develop a rash on their hairline before hair removal.
Hair loss from several areas of the body (e.g. beard, arms, legs, etc.)
“Frontal fibrosing alopecia usually begins with a receding hairline starting at the temples or the front of the hairline, but some people may first notice hair loss and thinning around the base of their eyebrows,” Dr. Baliu added.
FFA can affect women who have reached menopause. (Getty Images)
What are the possible causes of FFA?
Although the exact cause of frontal fibrosing alopecia is still unknown and varies from person to person, Dr. Baliu says there are several possible causes of FFA.
autoimmune disease
FFA can occur when the immune system attacks the hair follicle and prevents hair growth.
“People with autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus, Crohn’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis may be more likely to develop FFA,” Dr. Balliou explains.
hormone
Most women who experience FFA are postmenopausal, and in fact, the National Institutes of Health suggests that 60-95% of women who suffer from FFA have reached menopause by the time they begin to show signs of hair loss. .
“FFA is more likely to develop when estrogen levels are low, which is why it is more common among women who have reached menopause,” Dr. Baliu added.
genetics
Although it is not yet confirmed whether FFA is a genetic disease, many people who suffer from frontal fibrosing alopecia report having family members with the same condition. Therefore, FFA may have a genetic association.
environmental factors
Research suggests that if you have a genetic predisposition to FFA, environmental factors such as face creams, sun exposure, and infections with viruses or drugs can cause FFA.
People who are prone to contact allergies and are prone to allergies to cosmetics, creams, and hair dyes may experience FFA as a result.
stress
Stress can trigger FFA in people who are already at risk of developing this type of hair loss.
“This is because when the body experiences stress, it prioritizes delivering nutrients to critical functions such as organs, rather than less important functions such as hair growth,” Dr. Baliu explains. “Over time, a lack of this nutrient can lead to hair breakage and hair loss.”
process
Dr. Baliu says there are a variety of treatments for FFA, including:
Antibiotics that reduce inflammation: doxycycline and minocycline
Hair loss medications: finasteride or dutasteride can help prevent further hair loss
Corticosteroid creams and injections to help with hair loss
If you want a more permanent solution, hair transplants to the affected area, such as eyebrow hair transplants, are also an option.
Here, a hair follicle is inserted from the back of the head into the eyebrow where the patient has experienced hair loss. By transplanting hair in the direction of hair growth, a natural-looking finish is achieved.
“Eyebrow transplantation is the only permanent solution to restore hair growth in people suffering from FFA,” Dr. Baliu explains. “This is a one-time procedure that gives natural texture and dimension, unlike methods like microblading or brow tinting.”
“How did I learn to accept my hair loss?”
Brenda Finn has alopecia universalis, which causes all her hair to fall out, including her eyebrows and eyelashes. (Brenda Finn/Changing Faces)
Brenda Finn, an ambassador for Changing Faces, a charity that supports people with visible differences, developed alopecia universalis when she was just 14 years old. Although this is a different type of hair loss than FFA, people with alopecia universalis lose all hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes, facial hair, and body hair. Here she tells Yahoo UK how she came to terms with hair loss and regained her confidence.
“Throughout my teenage years, I experienced relentless bullying because of my hair loss, which made me very isolated and lonely. I tried to hide my condition with wigs, but that didn’t stop the bullying. In the end, I decided to homeschool. I felt like I had no control over anything. I couldn’t find a way to deal with people’s reactions or my own emotions, and I ended up becoming agoraphobic.
“As an adult, working with children gave me solace. They were so accepting of my differences that I found a passion for performing and eventually became a children’s entertainer. I loved my job, but some days were harder than others. Fake it until you succeed became a way of life for me. My confidence was shaken and people’s inconsiderations were. Sometimes the negative looks and comments sent me back to square one.
“Now, I choose to embrace my uniqueness and feel happier with myself than ever before. By addressing my hair loss, rather than hiding from it, I am embracing my condition and being brave. I no longer have to put on a face and have true confidence. Society builds concepts and rules around beauty, but that’s it. Real beauty is what we define for ourselves. is.
“Don’t be afraid to challenge outdated norms. You have control over how you see yourself, so don’t let outside information get you down.”
