Receding Hairline? WATCH THIS VIDEO | Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Explained

Dermatologist Dr. Dray expalins why your hairline is receding and you are losing your eyebrows. Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a type of hair loss that causes a receding hairline. In this video I explain the cause of a receding hair line, and treatments that can stop and reverse a receding hair line from frontal fibrosing alopecia. #hairloss #hairlosstreatment #dermatologist

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Some links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links.

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0:00 Receding hairline from frontal fibrosing alopecia
9:35 What causes frontal fibrosing alopecia receding hairline?
10:54 Risk factors for frontal fibrosing alopecia receding hairline
11:28 How is frontal fibrsoing alopecia diagnosed?
15:38 How to stop receding hairline from frontal fibrosing alopecia
18:50 How to stop receding hairline & frontal fibrosing alopecia at home

Disclaimer: This video is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Content provided on this Youtube channel is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this Youtube channel should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The statements made about specific products throughout this video are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

[MrsMcFeely]

Dr. Dray, I can't thank you enough for this video. It showed up in my feed the evening of my diagnosis (& I didn't Google anything). I will rewatch it because I spent most of the time saying out loud, "oh my God! That's me!" I am also sharing this video with my family, friends, & long-time hair stylist. My FFA started in 2021 with me awaking one morning to most of my left eyebrow being gone. I had NO visible irritation: no rash; no itchiness; no redness. I chalked it up to my hypothyroidism (controlled with daily meds), & asked my PCP about it. He had me go for a blood draw to check my thyroid levels. They were well within range. He suggested I try a brow serum. I tried 2 different drugstore brow serums. They did nothing. I bought some brow makeup & continued on. I'm of the menopausal age now, & have been prematurely gray since 18YO. After tinting my hair recently, I noticed that my left hairline on the side of my face seemed not as colored as my right. I chalked that up to not properly applying the tint. The next time I tinted my hair, I had the same result. I then noticed a horizontal "line" of scalp above my left ear. I chalked that up to my need to wear glasses. I also noticed the scalp of my bangs being a more pinky-red color than the rest of my scalp, & the bangs hair near my scalp feeling almost like hair plugs. I noticed no other visible irritation (flakes, scabs, bumps). I just figured it was drier & I should use conditioner there. About 3 weeks ago, I went for a consultation with an electrologist for my unwanted facial hair (hello menopause). During her consultation with her highly-magnified specialty glasses, she said, "it looks like you have some hair loss here." Now, I have very thick hair that has always been in great shape. I thought she was nuts. I couldn't possibly have hair loss. Nonetheless, I had an appointment with a dermatologist the next day for something unrelated. After the dermatologist finished her exam for which I made the appointment, she asked if I had any other concerns. I told her about the hair loss (that I couldn't possibly have). She checked it out, confirmed the hair loss, told me a couple of words (started with "lichen"), & asked me to come back for a biopsy of the area. She also explained that it's not anything life threatening, so that put me at ease. I just received the biopsy results earlier in the day that I saw this video in my feed. I ordered my compounded topical solution today, & I'm hopeful that it will work. I hope my story helps others. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.

[lmzkot]

I’ve had this for over 20 years. It’s been a very slow progression until the last 5 years. I didn’t have a diagnoses until about 8 years ago and even today there are so many physicians who know nothing about this type of alopecia. Thank you for talking about it.

[yikes]

This video is pure gold, thank you so much.
A problem is that some doctors shut down on the patient when we go in the office with some idea of what's the problem... They say we shouldn't use Dr. Google and quickly dismiss us, like they don't allow people to be educated about the body, conditions and treatment. I'm already dreading visiting a doctor and have to deal with that kind of pride when I mean no disrespect by being informed, all I really want is to be healthy =(

[Aussiepupadventures]

I just saw a dermatologist for a neck rash and this type of hair loss. She did mention alopecia, but the information you have provided has been way more helpful . She did mention brow injections but did not explain what exactly it would be for.. ugh. We need more doctors like you! Thank you for sharing!! ❤

[Sidera]

I'm glad I found this. I have been to 12 dermatologists and they keep dismissing my concerns for over 10 years and this sounds like what might be going on.

10 years ago, I caught a virus and, overnight, I developed seb derm, rosacea, an unspecified full-body inflammatory condition, and an immunodeficiency (non-HIV). Along with this, I lost a third of my hair and a third of my eyebrows. I kept getting told this was from stress and it would regrow back. There were these weird bumps in my eyebrows too and it my face was so itchy all the time. Most of the original hair loss was only in my hairline, which made my forehead look higher.

Derms kept telling me to wait until it grew back. It never did. Then they said it was seb derm, and I treated it, but things still did not improve. It seemed like my hairline had permanently receded half an inch. I requested biopsies of anything-- face, scalp, and was refused because "i was overreacting and it would leave a scar.". My hair also turned two shades darker, which made no sense.

A year into this odyssey, I had a medical emergency for my autoimmune disease and was hospitalized. As steroids are contraindicated for me, I was put on a permanent low dose of subcutaneous gamma globulin. After 3 doses, 75% of the problems began to stop. My hair grew back fuller and its original color, but the hairline never went as low as it had been (maybe some scarring).

During the chaos of the pandemic, I lost access to my gammaglobulin. This has caused systemic inflammation throughout my body. Last year, the hair loss began MUCH worse than before in the same pattern as before, and it changed colors again to darken. Now I am in perimenopause as well, so I'm sure the hormones are accelerating everything. My scalp is so unbelievably tender I can't even sleep on parts of it or tie my hair up in any tight styles. I've been trying to get my treatment restored but many doctors are so burned out they don't want to take complicated cases.

I never knew about this condition, so I am so glad I found out. This has really lit an extra fire under me to find someone who will diagnose it (or whatever the inflammation is) and treat it ASAP. In the span of 1 year my hairline has receded so far my widow's peak has almost disappeared and it's moving into my temples.

Thank you for this info. ❤

[torigillispie]

Omg, I have this!!! I’ve been to a dermatologist, 2x and they never said anything…. I will go back with this new info…

[ninabpf]

Very important video. I am 33 and was diagnosed with this condition 6 months ago. The first sign was hair loss on my arms, and my dermatologist didn’t think anything of it. I sought a second opinion (several months later because it’s so hard to get an appointment) and she noticed my scalp was red and did the biopsy. I’m on all of the treatments mentioned now after seeing a hair loss specialist last week. Fingers crossed for no further loss.

[mtntm]

It’s like you’re in my home and listening to my conversations. I’m going through this exact scenario now. My doctor thinks the loss is because I’ve been in a long term lupus flare and I’m going to my dermatologist for a biopsy. Thank you for this great information, I hope it’s not too late.

[mihaeladog]

Amazing how inflammation is the hidden cause of all problems. 🤔

[hdezines]

Thank you for this video. I wish I had known that the hair loss & scarring could have been prevented & went to a dermatologist earlier. This is the type that I have been diagnosed with. It's very stressful. I lost all of my widows peak and lost most of my eyebrows & edges. Lots of fun 🙄 meds, potions & injections to use for it. I was told that I couldn't even transplant hair to those places which was disappointing.

[denaisbell]

I stumbled on this video while desparately looking for answers for FFA. I think my hairline receded 1/100 of an inch while watching! Seriously, it's that bad. I am so thankful to finally find someone who knows exactly what to do and that there is hope to stop this craziness.

[MamaBear-mo]

I have frontal fibrosing alopecia. The treatment that has the most effective has been taking hydroxychloroquine twice a day. It takes a bit to see results, but my hair loss has haulted.

[sunnybluebird]

Thank you for sharing this. So many people have never heard of it. I had not until I was diagnosed with it in 2024. I went in for a skin check and had noticed that I had redness and little bumps in my eyebrows and had lost alot of them. Lucky for me, I have always had over thick hair, but it was receeding some. The Dermatologist did a punch biopsy in my brow and it came back as Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia. I tried some different things but nothing seemed to work. I have now been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis which is another autoimmune disease. My brows have scarred and I have lost more of them but now I can really tell it in my scalp by the feel of it. It is getting more itchy and painful. Maybe it is time to go see another Dermatologist and see what is new now in the form of treatments.

[margieryne]

Very informative video. I went through surgical menopause at age 30 plus I don’t have a thyroid. My eyebrows don’t have an end, they go halfway & stop. I’ve noticed when I wash my hair quite a bit comes out. I see my Dermatologist next month for my yearly body exam & I think I will talk with her about this! Thank you & have a great week!🥰

[susanwilson]

Thank you so much for this! I feel I waited too long to see a dermatologist. Don't wait people!.

[valerijohnson]

I a, so thankful I watched this video. I have Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia which my doctor and I thought had finally burned out but I have recently noticed dark hairs along my forehead in my otherwise white hair so I guess I had better start back with the Hydroxychloroquine and steroid lotions. Ugh. I quit minoxidil because of facial hair, especially around my eyes, like eyelashes growing everywhere. That disappeared within a week of quitting. So thank you Dr Dray for this timely video!

[roszbud]

So happy you discussed this topic. I was diagnosed with this condition since my mid-thirties- no risk factors present. I am now 49. I first lost all my brow hairs. I also have very little hair on my arms and legs. Have lost about an inch of my hairline. Treatment over the years has included hydroxychloriquine (which I still take), finasteride, and tacrolimus. My dermatologist uses steroid injections when there is a lot of inflammation but the injections have not led to regrowth.

I am currently on Xeljanz which is actually a drug prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis. There has been some growth but patchy. One or two strands can be seen on the brow area🙂. I also take oral minoxidil.

Fortunately I have not experienced any pain or discomfort with the condition. I hate having to pencil in my brows every morning though. Tried micro blading twice without success.

[replicant]

I believe this is what I've been struggling with for over a year now. I've gone to my GP and dermatologist, used steroids, gone for allergy testing, and still no diagnosis. I'm distraught about my hair loss and frustrated by how often I've been fluffed off about it.

[nadab]

My heart went out to a lady I saw just two days ago, who appeared to have frontal fibrosing alopecia. She also had a very sundamaged skin, including her face which was heavily freckled. This made both conditions much more obvious, because there was a clearly defined line on her forehead where the freckles stopped (where her hairline used to be) and where her scalp started (which was just evenly toned fair skin). This gave her face a mask like appearance.
I am not shaming her in any way, but it did actually make think that if her skin was healthier her chances of (the hair folicals' scars) healing would probably be much better.
I was also hoping that she doesn't receive unsolicited comments (& advice) from tactless strangers, aquaintances, family members etc.
Dr Dray has previously discussed how ill-mannered some people can be when they decide to tell someone that they have noticed their skin condition (acne for instance). Most people have a mirror and already know they have a skin concern; so they don't need to be reminded (even in a supposedly caring way), as it may further add to a persons psychological distress.
👱🏻‍♀️❤️

[helenjoanna]

Interesting. There are many types of Alopecia that only Trichologists know about.
Minoxidil tablets and finesteride that I've just started are useful for Andro Alopecia.