What is inflammatory alopecia?
Inflammatory alopecia is hair loss caused by persistent or chronic inflammation that damages or destroys hair follicles. It often presents with redness, scaling, or scalp discomfort.
Examples include lichen planopilaris and discoid lupus erythematosus. Inflammatory alopecia can lead to scarring if left untreated, making early intervention critical.
Red light therapy may help manage inflammation when paired with appropriate medical care by calming immune overactivity and promoting healing in early, non-scarring stages of inflammatory alopecia.
Related terms
Diffuse Thinning
Clinical Applications
Diffuse thinning refers to uniform hair loss across the entire scalp rather than in defined patches or regions.
Scarring Alopecia
Clinical Applications
Scarring alopecia involves permanent hair loss caused by follicular scarring.
Trichology
Clinical Applications
Trichology is the branch of dermatology that focuses on the scientific study of hair and scalp health.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Clinical Applications
PRP is a regenerative therapy that uses concentrated platelets to stimulate hair growth.
