What is scarring alopecia?

There are many causes of hair loss, in addition to the reason for hair loss as we age, hair loss can also signal that the body is lacking nutrients or has a disease. Alopecia areata is mainly divided into 2 main reasons: scarred alopecia and unscarred hair loss. So what is scarred hair loss?

1.What is scarred alopecia? Scarred alopecia is a manifestation of hair loss accompanied by destruction or loss of hair follicles. When the disease is in the acute stage, in addition to hair loss, the patient also has other manifestations such as red papules, red patches, hair follicle papules, hair follicle horns, or pustules on the head and hairline.
If hair loss has scarring in more severe cases and not treated promptly, it will lead to deep inflammation. However, it will not appear in the acute stage, but sometimes it will appear like non-scarring hair loss such as: Hair falls out quickly, leaving one or more circular or oval sores on the scalp.
2. Causes of Scarred Hair Loss Inflammatory processes of the scalp can be caused by bacterial infections, scalp fungus, skin diseases in the scalp area that destroy the hair follicles, causing hair to fall out and leave scars. on that area of ​​hair loss. If the disease is at an early stage, timely detection and treatment will help the hair recover and grow back normally. However, if the entire hair follicle is destroyed in the damaged area, treatment can help cure the skin disease locally, but hair regrowth is difficult. Here are the common causes of hair loss with scarring:
2.1 Hair loss due to lupus erythematosus Hair loss caused by patients with lupus erythematosus often manifests in two typical forms as follows:
Type 1: Appearance of erythema, atrophy skin, hair follicle keratosis, vasodilatation, local hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. Patients with alopecia areata or without other manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus erythematosus. Type 2: Manifestations of dry, sparse, brittle hair in the anterior region of the scalp in systemic lupus erythematosus. When biopsies are indicated for alopecia areata caused by chronic cutaneous lupus, the results usually show a high concentration of lymphocytes, keratosis and nodule of hair follicles.

2.2 Hair loss caused by lichen planus of hair follicles Manifestations of alopecia areata due to lichen planus of hair follicles: Appearance of papules or red macules around the hair follicles. The hair follicle papules may gradually spread to the skin and extremities.
Damaged areas where hair loss can be seen atrophic scar spots. In addition, there are papules with polygonal shape, with purple-red color in the wrist area. Diagnosis of the cause of hair loss due to lichen planus of the hair follicle is mainly based on biopsy results showing typical infiltrates of lichen planus in the dermis.
2.3 Hair loss due to folliculitis decalvans Folliculitis causes pustules, slips, scabs to recur many times, causing hair loss with ivory white scars. The cause of decalvans folliculitis is the body's overreaction to attacking bacteria such as staphylococcus.
2.4 Hair loss caused by kerion celsi The phenomenon of scalp fungus causes the body to create a strong reaction, forming many layers of pus in the scalp. This inflammatory process results in scarring hair loss. Kerion celsi disease is more common in young children and pets in the house such as dogs and cats. To treat hair loss caused by kerion celsi, it is necessary to combine the use of antifungal antibiotics, and at the same time, must make incision to drain the pus at the site.
2.5 Acne keloid hair loss This condition is common in men, young, dark skin, appearing acne-shaped papules on the nape of the neck. After these lesions will progress to the form of keloid scars that destroy the hair follicles. Treatment with topical corticosteroid injection, vitamin A acid, antibiotics, surgical removal of the hair follicles.
2.6 Brocq's Plaque Wigloss Alopecia is a patch-like hair loss, without inflammation or keratosis of the hair follicles. However, the area of ​​hair loss progresses to scarring locally and destroys the hair follicles.
In addition, there are other causes such as:
Burns Mucous tumors There are tumors in the scalp

In most cases of hair loss with scarring, the doctor will order a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and give a prognosis about the possibility of hair growth after treatment. Doctors rely on clinical symptoms, find out the cause of hair loss, and then have a treatment method for hair loss with scarring. For each different cause, there will be a different treatment.
Currently, there are many methods of treating hair loss with scars, in order for the treatment to be most effective, patients should see a dermatologist for advice and the most suitable treatment method.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has been applying the treatment of hair loss with local injections very effectively. Intravenous alopecia areata is a procedure in which a steroid drug is injected into the skin to suppress the local immune response, stimulate hair follicle growth, or stimulate hair growth. Treatment of hair loss by injection at the lesion is a simple, safe, low-cost method in the treatment of alopecia areata and diffuse alopecia. This is also a safe and effective treatment method, bringing aesthetic value to customers, popular in dermatology.
With a team of highly skilled doctors with many years of experience combined with modern equipment will bring the best treatment results for each patient case.