Lichen Planopilaris

Lichen planopilaris is a variant of lichen planus in which a perifollicular infiltrate affects and ultimately destroys the hair follicles. It is usually on the hairy head and is the main cause of cicatricial alopecia. Treatment against hair loss can be a solution in some cases of hair loss.

What is lichen planopilaris

Lichen planopilaris occurs mainly in women, aged 40-60. Lichen planopilaris in children is rare. It can progress rapidly and can be difficult to treat.

There can be three variants of lichen planopilaris on your hairy head:

• Classic lichen planopilaris; the classic form is usually on top of the skin near the crown. It starts centrally and expands to the edges. If it reaches the edges, you may see redness and purpleness around the follicles. At the centre, the scalp becomes smooth and no hair follicles are present. Usually the hairs are easy to pluck out. You may also lose pubic, armpit or eyebrow hair. There may also be an itching or burning feeling of the scalp.
• Frontal fibrosing alopecia; people that suffer from this often are postmenopausal, older women. That present themselves with a symmetrical recession of the frontal and temporal hairline. Total or partial loss of the eyebrows is classic and sometimes the first symptom. In some patients, it combines with female- pattern hair loss.
• Lassueur Graham-Little Piccardi syndrome; it is recognisable by spots on the trunk. In addition, it can effectively attack the scalp and cause bald patches and look like a scar.

What are the symptoms of lichen planopilaris

All sorts of lichen planopilaris can occur, in different ways and have different effects on the scalp. The most common symptoms to recognize suffering from it are symptoms such as: skin around the hair follicles turns red and the rest of the scalp light purple. Then Keratin accumulates in the opening of the hair follicles, revealing a large number of keratinised hairs.

These hair follicles become clogged, as dirt and fine dust accumulate as a result of the flaking of the epidermal cells. This results in hair loss and scarring. The scar tissue is white and the hair follicles are usually no longer visible in the bald patches. These bald patches often become larger and larger and the hair at the edges can often be pulled out easily.

What causes lichen planopilaris

The exact cause of Lichen Planopilaris is not entirely clear. Science has not yet been able to make a clear judgement on this. However, we think that the disease is probably caused by an unusual reaction of the body to certain drugs, infections and excessive stress.

Causes for hair loss

If your hair falls off there can be multiple causes for it, planopilaris does not happen very often. There are many other causes and types of hair loss. Below are the most common types of hair loss, with potential causes and effects on your hair.

• Anagen effluvium is a rapid loss of your hair. This often happens after chemotherapy or a radiation treatment.

Potential causes for anagen effluvium are exposure of chemicals such as thallium, boron and arsenic. Other causes are radiation therapy, endocrine diseases, alopecia areata, cicatrizing disease, a trauma and high pressure/stress.

Potential effects of anagen effluvium are a rapid loss of hair.
Here you can find a treatment for advanced hair loss.

• Alopecia areata is a form of hair loss, in which bald patches suddenly appear. These bald patches usually have a round or oval shape.

Potential causes of alopecia areata are mostly due to a reaction of your immune-system. The immune systems mistakenly attacks a part of the body. It can be triggered by stress, a virus or medication.

Potential effects on the body are bald patches in a round or oval shape. Often there is hair loss on the scalp. It happens without any signs of rash, redness or scarring. Here you can find a treatment for alopecia areata. 

Most common cause for hair loss

• Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in adults. Different patterns are possible and heredity plays an important role. Androgenetic alopecia is also very common in women. This often starts at the menopause or before it, also women can suffer from it based on heredity.

Potential causes for androgenic alopecia are genetics and the amount of DHT.

Potential effects differ from men and woman. In men, the hair loss is first visible in the front hairline and at the temples, as well as at the top and crown. Usually, the hair above the ears continues to grow backwards. However, your entire skull can become completely bald over time. In women, however, it takes place much more evenly. However, the hairline often remains intact. You can read more about androgenetic alopecia here.

(Woman (35) with Androgenetic Alopecia and thinning hair on the crown of the head. This woman used the treatment for thinning hair. After 24 weeks of use the density of the hair improved significantly.)

Here you can find a treatment for androgenetic alopecia.

Other causes of hair loss

• Telogen effluvium is a form of diffuse hair loss, most common among women. You can suffer from an (acute form), that is mainly caused by stress or a (chronic form) that mainly reoccurs and the cause of it is unknown.

Potential causes of telogen effluvium in the acute form are stressful situations, such as: childbirth, high fever, surgery, blood donation and a severe restriction of food intake. Read more about telogen effluvium here.

(Woman (44) with diffuse hair loss on top of the head. This woman has used the Neofollics treatment for moderate hairloss under supervision of a dermatologist. These results are after using the products for 24 weeks.)

Potential effects on your hair condition are that you shed more hair than normally. You might find hair in your drain or pillow. If you suffer from telogen effluvium we offer an effective treatment, that has been improved by dermatologists.

• Tinea capitis is a head fungus. It occurs mainly in children and is contagious.

Potential causes of tinea capitis are because of a fungi. Fungi are highly contagious and can be transmitted from person to person through contact with infected hair, but also through clothing, headgear, cinema seats, car seats, bedding, towels, combs and brushes.

Potential effects on the scalp are bald patches , flaking, patches of pus, crusts, redness and swelling.

Conclusion

Lichen planopilaris is a hair disease, where hair follicles are inflamed. It is potentially caused by an unusual reaction of your body and immune-system due to stress, infections or medications. If you are not sure, what causes your hair loss. Don’t worry because most of the time you suffer from a sort of alopecia or effluvium.