Follicular Degeneration Syndrome – and the condition's characteristics

Follicular Degeneration Syndrome (FDS) goes by a number of names, including "Central Progressive Alopecia" and "Hot Comb Alopecia", among several others.

Regardless of the name, the condition falls under the same overall group of hair loss disorders termed Scarring Alopecia. What these hair loss disorders have in common is a potentially permanent and irreversible destruction of the hair follicles. In some ways, Follicular Degeneration Syndrome can resemble patchy hair loss, as both conditions share some of the same symptoms. With FDS, small bald patches or blotches also often appear, but these are not nearly as circular as they often are with patchy hair loss. The condition Follicular Degeneration Syndrome is often characterised by a form of diffuse and spontaneous hair loss. The area affected by hair loss will slowly enlarge over time, and if a biopsy of the skin is taken, it usually turns out that there is an inflammatory condition in the affected follicles. In addition, early flaking can also be seen on the roots of the hair follicles, which helps to cause the hair loss.

Treatment options for Follicular Degeneration Syndrome

If the follicles are still functional, there are good opportunities to provide effective treatment. A treatment for FDS will aim to get the still-functional follicles to resume the production of hair.

This type of treatment can advantageously be combined with other boosters that help to promote hair growth. A successful treatment will thereby result in a head of hair that once again adorns the crown. Although there can of course be differences in treatment results, you will usually be able to see clear improvements. There is one factor in particular that is central to whether the treatment will produce successful results. The most important thing here is to detect the condition early, so that there are still many functional follicles remaining. The more functional follicles, the more hair and denser hair growth it is possible to recreate.