Study aims to better elucidate CCCA in men

In a case series of 17 men with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), almost half had a family history of alopecia, most were Black, and the most common symptom was scalp pruritus.

Researchers retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 17 male patients with a clinical diagnosis of CCCA who were seen at University of Pennsylvania outpatient clinics between 2012 and 2022. They excluded patients who had no scalp biopsy or if the scalp biopsy features limited characterization. Temitayo Ogunleye, MD, of the department of dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, led the study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

CCCA, a type of scarring alopecia, most often affects women of African descent, and published data on the demographics, clinical findings, and medical histories of CCCA in men are limited, according to the authors.

The average age of the men was 43 years and 88.2% were Black, similar to women with CCCA, who tend to be middle-aged and Black. The four most common symptoms were scalp pruritus (58.8%), lesions (29.4%), pain or tenderness (23.5%), and hair thinning (23.5%). None of the men had type 2 diabetes (considered a possible CCCA risk factor), but 47.1% had a family history of alopecia. The four most common CCCA distributions were classic (47.1%), occipital (17.6%), patchy (11.8%), and posterior vertex (11.8%).

“Larger studies are needed to fully elucidate these relationships and explore etiology in males with CCCA,” the researchers wrote. “Nonetheless, we hope the data will prompt clinicians to assess for CCCA and risk factors in adult males with scarring alopecia.”

Limitations of the study included the retrospective, single-center design, and small sample size.

The researchers reported having no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

In a case series of 17 men with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), almost half had a family history of alopecia, most were Black, and the most common symptom was scalp pruritus.

Researchers retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 17 male patients with a clinical diagnosis of CCCA who were seen at University of Pennsylvania outpatient clinics between 2012 and 2022. They excluded patients who had no scalp biopsy or if the scalp biopsy features limited characterization. Temitayo Ogunleye, MD, of the department of dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, led the study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

CCCA, a type of scarring alopecia, most often affects women of African descent, and published data on the demographics, clinical findings, and medical histories of CCCA in men are limited, according to the authors.

The average age of the men was 43 years and 88.2% were Black, similar to women with CCCA, who tend to be middle-aged and Black. The four most common symptoms were scalp pruritus (58.8%), lesions (29.4%), pain or tenderness (23.5%), and hair thinning (23.5%). None of the men had type 2 diabetes (considered a possible CCCA risk factor), but 47.1% had a family history of alopecia. The four most common CCCA distributions were classic (47.1%), occipital (17.6%), patchy (11.8%), and posterior vertex (11.8%).

“Larger studies are needed to fully elucidate these relationships and explore etiology in males with CCCA,” the researchers wrote. “Nonetheless, we hope the data will prompt clinicians to assess for CCCA and risk factors in adult males with scarring alopecia.”

Limitations of the study included the retrospective, single-center design, and small sample size.

The researchers reported having no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

In a case series of 17 men with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), almost half had a family history of alopecia, most were Black, and the most common symptom was scalp pruritus.

Researchers retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 17 male patients with a clinical diagnosis of CCCA who were seen at University of Pennsylvania outpatient clinics between 2012 and 2022. They excluded patients who had no scalp biopsy or if the scalp biopsy features limited characterization. Temitayo Ogunleye, MD, of the department of dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, led the study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

CCCA, a type of scarring alopecia, most often affects women of African descent, and published data on the demographics, clinical findings, and medical histories of CCCA in men are limited, according to the authors.

The average age of the men was 43 years and 88.2% were Black, similar to women with CCCA, who tend to be middle-aged and Black. The four most common symptoms were scalp pruritus (58.8%), lesions (29.4%), pain or tenderness (23.5%), and hair thinning (23.5%). None of the men had type 2 diabetes (considered a possible CCCA risk factor), but 47.1% had a family history of alopecia. The four most common CCCA distributions were classic (47.1%), occipital (17.6%), patchy (11.8%), and posterior vertex (11.8%).

“Larger studies are needed to fully elucidate these relationships and explore etiology in males with CCCA,” the researchers wrote. “Nonetheless, we hope the data will prompt clinicians to assess for CCCA and risk factors in adult males with scarring alopecia.”

Limitations of the study included the retrospective, single-center design, and small sample size.

The researchers reported having no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.