Lichen Planopilaris in 24 African American Women

This study investigates lichen planopilaris (LPP) in 24 African American women, challenging the notion that scarring alopecia in Black women is mainly central cicatricial centrifugal alopecia. It introduces the "arrowhead distribution" pattern as a potential indicator of progressive scarring alopecia in LPP, distinct from other forms. The study underscores the importance of considering LPP in the differential diagnosis for Black patients with scarring alopecia, recommending biopsy confirmation to prevent treatment delays and improve outcomes. Findings revealed that 91.7% of patients had vertex involvement, and 70.8% had both frontal and vertex involvement, with common trichoscopic findings of perifollicular erythema and scale. The study calls for further research to better understand and differentiate alopecias in Black patients.