What should you know about woman lichen planopilaris?

This condition targets hair follicles and may cause redness, scale, burning, itching, tenderness, or small areas where hairs thin. As inflammation continues, follicles can be replaced by scar tissue, so hair may not regrow in affected areas. A dermatologist may examine the scalp closely and sometimes recommend a biopsy to distinguish it from other causes of hair loss. It is not diagnosed from shedding alone.

Arrange a dermatology assessment and record symptoms, photographs, and changes in the parting or hairline. Use gentle hair care, avoid scratching, and pause tight styles, harsh chemicals, and heat that aggravate a sensitive scalp. Treatment aims to calm inflammation and may involve steroid medicine applied to the scalp, injections into selected areas, or oral corticosteroid treatment in specific situations. Your clinician will tailor the choice to activity and extent.

Seek care soon when scalp redness, scale, burning, tenderness, or loss is progressing. Contact your clinician sooner if treatment causes marked irritation, vision changes, severe mood symptoms, or signs of infection. A rapidly changing patch or loss of eyebrows should also be reported because it may alter the assessment and treatment plan.

Ask whether the inflammation is active, whether a biopsy is useful, what treatment goal is realistic, and how you will monitor side effects and new areas of loss.