Other names: Follicular Lichen Planus; Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia; Kossard Disease; Lichen Follicularis; Lichen Planus Follicularis; LPP
Lichen planopilaris is a form of lichen planus (an inflammatory condition affecting the skin and mucous membranes) that affects the scalp and hair.
While the exact cause of lichen planopilaris is unknown, it is thought to be an autoimmune disorder of the hair follicles.
Lichen planopilaris usually affects young women, but can also affect men. It commonly develops in association with lichen planus which affects the skin, mucosa and nails.
Symptoms of lichen planopilaris include scaly skin and redness around hair follicles, smooth white bald patches, and pain, burning, or itching on the scalp. The scarring caused by lichen planopilaris can lead to permanent hair loss.
Anti-inflammatory treatments should be provided early to slow the progression of the disease and relieve symptoms. There is no treatment to recover hairs that have been lost and replaced by scarring.
