Will My Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA) Ever Become "Symptomatic"?

Scalp Symptoms in Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA)

I’ve selected this question below for this week’s question of the week. It allows us to discuss symptoms in FFA.

Question

I read that some patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia have symptoms like itching. I don’t have any and never have. Is it possible for me to develop symptoms in the future?

Answer

Thanks for the question. The short answer is that it could become symptomatic but more likely than not it won’t - especially if you have started some kind of treatment.

FFA is often “asymptomatic.” It's not uncommon to have no symptoms - no itching, burning or tenderness. In fact, many people go years without even knowing the condition is taking place. FFA runs under the radar for many people.

One monitors the disease by following measurements and photos.

One may never get symptoms although some patients with FFA do get symptoms in the future. Patients with FFA who also have lichen planopilaris (LPP) in the mid-scalp and crown are more likely to get symptoms.

When we look at the range of symptoms that patients with FFA report, it’s often a lot more narrow in range than other scarring alopecia like lichen planopilaris (LPP), folliculitis decalvans (FD), pseudopelade (PPB), discoid lupus (DLE) and dissecting cellulitis (DSC).