Lichen Planopilaris is a Common Scarring Alopecia among Iraqi Population

Background: Scarring alopecia like discoid lupus erythematosus, lichenplanopilaris and scarring folliculitis are common skin problems where differentiations between them are often difficult in many cases. Objective: To report, study and evaluate cases of lichen planopilaris and characterize the different clinical points in favor of this disease. Patients and Methods: This case series descriptive study was done at Department of Dermatology-Baghdad Teaching Hospital from January 2010 to November 2012. Sixty seven patients were included where histological and dermatological examinations were carried out to all patients regarding all relevant points related to the disease. Punch biopsies were performed from ten patients for histopathological study. Results: The mean age of onset of the disease was 36.7 ± 5 years with a mean duration of the disease being 4.4 ± 3 years. The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. The characteristic lesions were pigmented scarring moth eaten alopecia surrounded by pigmented hyperkeratotic follicular papules involving mainly the fronto-vertical and parietal scalp. Conclusions: Lichen planopilaris is a common cause of scalp scarring alopecia in adult and it has many characteristic clinical features which can facilitate differentiation from other pathologic scalp conditions like discoid lupus erythematosus.