What is Cicatricial Alopecia?

Cicatricial alopecia primarily originates from underlying health conditions that initiate inflammation and harm the hair follicles. This process culminates in the formation of lasting scar tissue and subsequent hair loss.

These foundational health issues can involve the body’s own immune system mistakenly targeting the structures of the hair, infections that develop within the scalp, or various dermatological conditions that directly impact the hair roots. This internal inflammatory mechanism leads to irreversible damage, impeding the follicles’ capacity to generate new hair in the affected regions of the scalp.

Hair loss accompanied by the formation of scars can also arise as a consequence of significant external trauma to the scalp, such as deep wounds or burns. In these situations, the damage inflicted upon the hair follicles is a direct outcome of the physical injury, rather than an internal disease process primarily attacking the follicles themselves. However, it is important to recognize that the majority of instances of scarring hair loss are triggered by internal medical conditions that give rise to inflammation and the destruction of hair follicles.