An increasingly common type of hair loss in older women is a receding hairline called frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). Early treatment may help slow or stop hair loss.
Most women who have hair loss notice thinning hair on the top of their heads. This is called female-pattern hair loss. Another type of hair loss that is becoming more common in older women is a receding hairline. This condition is called frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). It is a form of lichen planopilaris, a condition that causes scarring and permanent hair loss on the scalp.
FFA causes swelling of the skin on the scalp around the tiny holes where hair grows, called hair follicles. The skin may look red, purple or brown, depending on your skin color. Over time, the swelling damages the follicles, causing the hair to fall out. Scars form over the follicles and stop new hair from growing.
One of the first signs of FFA may be thinning or loss of the eyebrows. This can happen before you see changes in your hairline. Men also can have FFA, which may cause thinning of the beard along with hairline loss. People with FFA may feel itching, burning or pain in areas where the hair has fallen out or new swelling appears.
Experts don't know exactly what causes frontal fibrosing alopecia. It may be caused by genes, hormone changes, something in the environment or an immune system condition.
While lost hair may not grow back, finding and treating FFA early may help slow or stop more hair loss. To diagnose FFA, your healthcare professional looks closely at your scalp and eyebrows and asks about your symptoms and health history. Your healthcare professional may take a small piece of skin from your scalp to check under a microscope.
If you're diagnosed with FFA, your healthcare professional may suggest one or more of the following treatments:
- Steroid creams or shots to reduce swelling.
- Minoxidil (Rogaine), a medicine you can buy without a prescription, to slow hair loss.
- Medicines that calm the immune system, such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), tacrolimus (Astagraf XL, Prograf, others) or pimecrolimus (Elidel).
- Finasteride (Propecia) or dutasteride (Avodart), prescription medicines that may help slow hair loss. These are not safe for women who are or may become pregnant.
- Antibiotics to lessen swelling.
If you notice a receding hairline or thinning eyebrows, talk with your healthcare professional. Starting treatment early may help stop further hair loss.
Oct. 16, 2025
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