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Vol. 96. Núm. 6.
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Vol. 96. Núm. 6.
Páginas 776-778 (01 Novembro 2021)
Research Letter
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Association of frontal fibrosing alopecia and contact allergens in everyday skincare products in Hispanic females: a case-control study
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Sonia Sofia Ocampo-Garzaa, Maira Elizabeth Herz-Ruelasa, Sonia Chavez-Alvareza, David Marcelo de la Fuente-Rodriguezb, Jorge Ocampo-Candiania,
Autor para correspondência
jocampo2000@yahoo.com.mx

Corresponding author.
a Dermatology Department, University Hospital “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
b School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
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Table 1. Personal hygiene products used by cases and controls.
Table 2. Most common positive contact allergens.
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Dear Editor,

Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA) is primary lymphocytic scarring alopecia with an unclear etiopathogenesis. Hormonal, immune-mediated, genetic, and environmental hypotheses have been proposed; one of which relates to increased sunscreen use.1 We sought to identify a possible association between FFA and sunscreen use in our patient population.

A case-control study with thirty-six Hispanic females; eighteen cases and eighteen sex-and age-matched controls, was designed. The protocol was approved by the local ethics committee of the University Hospital “Dr. José Eleuterio González” in Monterrey, Mexico. A questionnaire inquiring about hygiene products and sunscreens, including time of use, was formulated. Patients and controls were patch tested using allergens from allergEAZE’s Standard, Cosmetic, and Photopatch series. Readings were performed 48 and 96 hours after application. Reactions were measured by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group criteria.2 FFA patients seen in our Dermatology clinic from 2012–2018 were included. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare between groups. Statistical significance was considered p < 0.05.

The mean age of FFA patients was 59.1 and 56.5 years for controls. Sixteen cases were postmenopausal. Ten subjects referred minimally one symptom (mostly pruritus). Seven cases had at least one autoimmune-mediated disease, being lichen planus pigments the most common. Nine patients had a family history of autoimmunity.

Hair loss outside of the scalp was noted in fifteen cases. All had eyebrow, twelve limb, and ten eyelash involvements. Eight individuals presented facial papules.

Table 1 outlines the use of hygiene products. Sunscreen use in FFA subjects was almost double in comparison with healthy controls (p = 0.035). Makeup foundation was used by fourteen patients in each group. FFA cases used more facial moisturizers compared to controls, without statistical significance.

Table 1.

Personal hygiene products used by cases and controls.

Product  FFA, n (%)  Controls, n (%)  p-value 
Makeup foundation  14 (77.8)  14 (77.8)  0.999 
Sunscreen  15 (83.3)  8 (44.4%)  0.035 
Makeup remover  10 (55.6)  11 (61.1)  0.999 
Facial moisturizer  17 (94.4)  14 (77.8)  0.338 
Anti-aging cream  12 (66.7)  6 (33.3)  0.094 
Shampoo  18 (100)  18 (100)  N/A 
Conditioner  9 (50)  12 (66.7)  0.5 
Hair styling cream  8 (44.4)  9 (50)  0.999 
Hair treatments  4 (22.2)  4 (22.2)  0.999 
Hair dye  11 (61.1)  14 (77.8)  0.471 
Permanents (wave or hair straightening)  1 (5.6)  3 (16.7)  0.603 
Deodorant  15 (83.3)  18 (100)  0.229 
Perfume  14 (77.8)  16 (88.9)  0.658 

Fifteen patients had positive reactions to at least one allergen against ten controls, no significant difference was found. The most common allergens in FFA were iodopropynyl butylcarbamate and propolis (Table 2). We reviewed patients’ hygiene products and made avoidance recommendations.

Table 2.

Most common positive contact allergens.

Allergen  FFA, n (%)  Controls, n (%)  p-value 
Amerchol L101  0 (0)  2 (11.1)  0.486 
Fragrance mix 8%  0 (0)  2 (11.1)  0.486 
Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate  3 (16.7)  1 (5.6)  0 603 
Nickel sulfate hexahydrate  1 (5.6)  2 (11.1)  0.999 
Propolis  3 (16.7)  1 (5.6)  0.603 
Methyldibromo glutaronitrile  2 (11.1)  2 (11.1)  0.999 
Sodium disulfite  0 (0)  2 (11.1)  0.486 

Aldoori et al. suggested environmental factors associated to FFA; with a significant difference in sunscreen use compared to controls. Forty patients were patch tested; more positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxide and Balsam of Peru were found in subjects with FFA versus general patch tested subjects.3 Rocha et al. did not observe differences in sixty-three FFA patients in comparison with local patch tested individuals, nor photoallergy was detected.4 Identified allergens in FFA are unable to explain the association between disease and sunscreen use.5 Thompson et al. found Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in hair shafts of FFA patients and asymptomatic controls; no positive reactions in eight FFA patients patch tested to five titanium types were found. It is unclear if TiO2 plays a role in FFA pathogenesis.6 Recently Rudnicka et al. patch tested 20 patients with FFA and 24 healthy controls finding a positive patch test reaction to one or more allergen in 65% of the cases, while only 37.5% of the controls had a positive reaction. The most common allergens encountered in the FFA group were cobalt chloride hexahydrate 35%, nickel sulfate hexahydrate 25%, and potassium dichromate 15%.7 In our study, 83.3% of cases and 55.5% of controls had at least one positive allergen.

Our study included sex-and age-matched healthy controls, while most of the previous publications have a general patch test population. Limitations include small sample size, recall bias for sunscreen use, lack of genetic studies, and generalizability due to racial/ethnic homogeneity.

In conclusion, FFA’s etiopathogenesis remains unknown. Increased sunscreen use and a greater prevalence of contact allergy was demonstrated in our FFA patients. Raising the question of whether allergic/immunologic responses in genetically predisposed patients could be triggered by exogenous substances. Our statistically non-significant greater prevalence of contact allergy and heterogeneity of results in previous studies endorses the need for further research to confirm this association.

Financial support

None declared.

Authors' contributions

Sonia Sofia Ocampo-Garza: Conception and design of the study; acquisition of data; analysis and interpretation; drafting the article; final approval of the version submitted.

Maira Elizabeth Herz-Ruelas: Conception and design of the study; analysis and interpretation; revising the article; final approval of the version submitted.

Sonia Chavez-Alvarez: Conception and design of the study; revising the article; final approval of the version submitted.

David Marcelo de la Fuente-Rodriguez: Acquisition of data; final approval of the version submitted.

Jorge Ocampo-Candiani: Conception and design of the study; analysis and interpretation; revising the article; final approval of the version submitted.

Conflicts of interest

None declared.

References
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M Lorizzo, A Tosti.
Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: An Update on Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
Am J Clin Dermatol., 20 (2019), pp. 379-390
[2]
J.G. DeKoven, E.M. Warshaw, K.A. Zug, H.I. Maibach, D.V. Belsito, D. Sasseville, et al.
North American Contact Dermatitis Group Patch Test Results: 2015-2016.
Dermatitis., 29 (2018),
[3]
N. Aldoori, K. Dobson, C.R. Holden, A.J. McDonagh, M. Harries, A.G. Messenger.
Frontal fibrosing alopecia: possible association with leave-on facial skin care products and sunscreens; a questionnaire study.
Br J Dermatol., 175 (2016), pp. 762-767
[4]
V.B. Rocha, A. Donati, L.A. Contin, P. Kakizaki, C.J. Machado, F.F. Brito, et al.
Photopatch and patch testing in 63 patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia: a case series.
Br J Dermatol., 179 (2018), pp. 1402-1403
[5]
D.H. Marks, A. Manatis-Lornell, D. Hagigeorges, J De Yu, M.M. Senna.
No difference in relevant potential allergens in SPF-containing facial moisturizers: implications in frontal fibrosing alopecia.
Drugs Ther Perspect., 35 (2019), pp. 347-349
[6]
C.T. Thompson, Z.Q. Chen, A. Kolivras, A. Tosti.
Identification of titanium dioxide on the hair shaft of patients with and without frontal fibrosing alopecia: A pilot study of 20 patients.
Br J Dermatol., 181 (2019), pp. 216-217
[7]
L. Rudnicka, G.R. Rokni, T. Lotti, U. Wollina, R. Fölster-Holst, A. Katsambas, et al.
Allergic contact dermatitis in patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia: An international multi-center study.
Dermatol Ther., 33 (2020),

How to cite this article: Ocampo-Garza SS, Herz-Ruelas ME, Chavez-Alvarez S, Fuente-Rodriguez DM, Ocampo-Candiani J. Association of frontal fibrosing alopecia and contact allergens in everyday skincare products in Hispanic females: a case-control study. An Bras Dermatol. 2021;96:776–8.

Study conducted at the University Hospital “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Monterrey, NL, Mexico.

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