Some dermatologists suspect a connection between skincare products and rising rates of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) – the condition that causes hair loss at the front of the scalp, mainly in postmenopausal women.
A 2023 paper, based on data from nine different studies, suggests FFA is linked to use of facial products, including moisturiser and, in particular, sunscreen.
Cases of FFA have increased sharply over the last two decades, especially in Europe and the US, prompting researchers to look more closely at environmental triggers alongside genetic and hormonal factors.
One theory is that certain ingredients in leave-on products may penetrate the skin around hair follicles and trigger an immune response, gradually damaging the follicles over time.
The connection remains hard to prove, however, because of the size and types of studies being carried out. In two UK studies in 2016 and 2017, for example, scientists surveyed small groups of people with FFA. In the first, 100 women with FFA reported using more sunscreen than 105 women with no hair loss.
