Final answer:
Scarring alopecia is a type of hair loss where inflammation destroys hair follicles, which are then replaced by scar tissue, often resulting in permanent hair loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scarring alopecia, also known as cicatricial alopecia, is a form of hair loss wherein inflammation destroys hair follicles and is replaced with scar tissue. In the context of the hair growth cycle, the anagen phase is the active growth phase, and damage during this phase can lead to hair loss. When the skin undergoes a significant healing process, such as in the case of keloids or atrophic scars, the normal skin structure including hair follicles fails to regenerate. This process is primarily driven by fibroblasts producing collagen in a basket-weave pattern which forms the bulk of the scar tissue. Unlike normal skin healing, scarring alopecia prevents the regrowth of hair because the hair follicles are replaced with fibrous scar tissue, typically leading to permanent hair loss.