The following is a summary of “Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia in males,” published in the December 2023 issue of Dermatology by Jackson, et al.

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), primarily affecting women of African descent, is rarely reported in men. While the etiology remains unknown, genetic variants, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and bacterial infections may contribute. For a study, researchers sought to characterize the demographics, medical histories, and clinical findings of male patients with biopsy-confirmed CCCA, hypothesizing potential differences from female presentations.

The study focused on adult male patients with biopsy-confirmed CCCA treated at an academic dermatology department between 2012 and 2022.

Seventeen males with scalp biopsy and clinical findings consistent with CCCA were included. With an average age of 43 years, 88.2% identified as Black. Scalp pruritus emerged as the most common symptom, and few reported high-risk hair care practices. Notably, none had a type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis, but 17.6% had a history of latent tuberculosis, and 47.1% had a positive family history of alopecia. Eight patients exhibited atypical CCCA, and 29.4% had overlapping scalp diagnoses. The study’s limitations include its single-center, retrospective design, and a relatively small sample size.

In the realm of alopecia in adult Black males, considering CCCA in the differential diagnosis is crucial, shedding light on the condition’s manifestation in men.

Source: jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(23)02399-X/fulltext