The Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Severity Index (FFASI)

One of the challenges in FFA has been developing a consistent method to monitor the condition. How to we measure changes in the hairline? What changes should be followed? How do we photograph? It’s clear that many dermatologists that specialist in hair loss have slightly different methods of monitoring the condition. Scales used for monitoring other scarring alopecia just don’t work in FFA.

The Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Severity Index (FFASI)

In 2016, Holmes and colleagues published a scale known as the “Frontal fibrosing alopecia severity index (FFASI)” for monitoring changes in FFA. It evaluates FFA based on a score of 100. Points are assigned according to different level of hair loss along the frontal hairline. Additional points are given for patients with eyebrow, eyelash and various areas of body hair loss. The presence of lichen planopilaris on the scalp, facial papules and lichen planus on other areas of the body also give additional points.

Reference
Holmes S, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2016