Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia
REDEFINING HOT COMB ALOPECIA
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a rare condition that most commonly affects women of African ancestry. It was once known as hot comb alopecia, and it was thought to be caused by very specific hairstyling methods. Research has made clear that CCCA is actually a form of scarring (cicatricial) alopecia. We still don’t know what causes the condition, but we do know that it results in hair loss when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy hair follicles, replacing them with scar tissue. Unlike Lichen Planopilaris, the inflammation caused by CCCA often takes place below the surface of the skin, making it harder to detect. Because the hair follicles are destroyed, hair loss due to CCCA is permanent. The hair cannot be regrown, and hair restoration surgery will not achieve results. This makes early diagnosis especially important.
ANSWERS FOR CCCA
The first step toward dealing with CCCA is to seek a diagnosis from a medical specialist. Cicatricial Alopecia cannot be cured, and the hair loss it causes is permanent. Still, medicine can often slow or stop the advancement of inflammation and scarring. With the condition under control, our team offers a trichologic approach to scalp care that relieves pain and itching. As women’s hair loss specialists, we have multiple options for adding hair so that the results are undetectable. These range from temporary solutions that can be modified regularly, to a state-of-the-art, completely personalized, hypoallergenic permanent hair system from Cesare Ragazzi. We’ve helped hundreds of women reduce the impact that alopecias had on their lives. Even if you have a rare form of hair loss, we have the options and experience to help you feel great about your hair again.
A UNIQUE TYPE OF HAIR LOSS
First noticed in the 1950s, CCCA is a relatively new hair loss condition. It is unique for its pattern, which starts at the crown or the top of the head. The condition progresses in a symmetric pattern and can advance to Type VI or VII on the Hamilton–Norwood scale. Unlike other scarring alopecias that usually appear during menopause, CCCA often starts when a woman is in her 20s and progresses slowly over the next 20 to 30 years. No FDA-approved treatments have been developed, so dermatologists urge women to talk to their stylists about hair loss. By getting dermatological diagnosis and treatment early, women can prevent the spread of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia.