scarring baldness

Last reviewed 01/2018

Scarring alopecia is characterised by follicular destruction and replacement of the interfollicular epidermis by atrophic skin.

Most common dermatoses which cause scarring:

  • chronic discoid lupus erythematosus
  • lichen planus
  • lichen sclerosus
  • localised scleroderma - morphoea

Others:

  • neoplasms - basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adnexal (arising from the hair follicles) and metastatic (eg. breast)
  • infections - fungal eg. Tinea capitis; bacterial eg. staphylococcal folliculitis
  • mechanical trauma, burns, exposure to chemicals, irradiation
  • developmental defects - aplasia cutis, epidermal naevi, epidermolysis bullae, Darier's disease