Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is associated with leave-on facial products, including facial sunscreen and moisturizer, but is not associated with hair products, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, held from May 18 to 21 in Portland, Oregon.

Olivia Kam, from the Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine in New York, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association between FFA and personal care products. Data from five studies were included in the quantitative analyses, with 683 FFA patients and 755 controls.

The researchers identified significant positive associations for FFA with sunscreen and facial moisturizer (odds ratios, 2.82 and 1.93, respectively). No association was seen with facial cleanser, shampoo, hair conditioner, hair mousse, hair gel, hair dye, hair perming solution, hair styling aid, facial toner, cosmetic foundation, or aftershave.

"This meta-analysis concluded that leave-on facial products, namely facial sunscreen and moisturizer, are associated with FFA. No relationship was found for hair products," the authors write. "These findings suggest an environmental etiology in the development of FFA, particularly ultraviolet-protecting chemicals."

Abstract 180

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