This Kind of Hair Loss Mostly Affects Post-Menopausal Women—and It’s Becoming More Common

As if menopause didn’t come with enough undesirable symptoms, there’s an “emerging epidemic” of a specific kind of hair loss that tends to affect mostly post-menopausal women. If you’ve noticed that your hair loss starts at the front of your hairline, you may have frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). We asked experts all about this condition that seems to be growing among post-menopausal women.

Featured Experts

• Jeffrey B. Wise, MD is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration expert in Wayne, NJ
• Dr. Deborah Longwill is a board-certified dermatologist in Miami
• Kseniya Popova is the lead formulation chemist at The Rootist

What is frontal fibrosing alopecia?

“Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a type of hair loss that involves scarring, particularly in the frontal hairline,” says Wayne, NJ facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration expert Jeffrey B. Wise, MD. “It has a band-like pattern that frequently spans from the temples to the middle of the forehead,” he explains. Miami dermatologist Dr. Deborah Longwill notes that it can also sometimes affect the eyebrows. “Over time, it leads to permanent hair loss due to the destruction of hair follicles,” explains Dr. Longwill. Lead formulation chemist at The Rootist Kseniya Popova notes that the condition can be quite an emotional experience.

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What causes frontal fibrosing alopecia?

FFA could be due to a number of factors, but no one really knows for sure why someone develops it, says Popova. “The exact cause is not fully understood, but we believe it to be an autoimmune process in which the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles,” says Dr. Longwill, who notes hormonal factors, genetics and environmental triggers may also be at play. Dr. Wise adds that there are potentially some medications that can lead to the condition as well.

Who is most commonly affected by frontal fibrosing alopecia?

FFA is most commonly seen in post-menopausal women, says Dr. Longwill. However, it can occasionally appear in younger women and men as well, she notes.

Are there any solutions?

The hair loss associated with this condition is deemed largely irreversible, says Popova. However, there are ways to slow hair loss and stabilize the condition. “Early diagnosis and intervention are key to slowing progression. We typically use a combination of topical anti-inflammatories, oral medications such as hydroxychloroquine or finasteride and intralesional corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation,” says Dr. Longwill. Dr. Wise also also says immunotherapy like topical or injectable corticosteroids may help.

“Supportive measures, like gentle hair care and sun protection for the scalp, are also important. While regrowth is rare, we can often halt further loss and preserve remaining hair,” says Dr. Longwill. “If the disease progression has stabilized for over six to 12 months, hair transplantation is frequently performed in my practice.”

“Because there is a such a psychological element that accompanies the loss of hair at the visible portions of women’s face and head, the best thing to recommend is to help manage the condition and help support the remaining hair,” says Popova, who points to The Rootist Densify Collection as a great option.