Lymphocytic infiltrate at the dermoepidermal junction and around hair follicles.

LEGEND

Acanthosis is characterized by a thickening of the entire epidermis, with a predominance of thickening in the spinous layer.

LEGEND

Presence of lymphocytes nibbling at the epidermal basement membrane

Lymphocytic infiltrate at the interfollicular dermoepidermal junction with a predominant periannexial, folliculocentric distribution

As it progresses, lichen planopilaris leads to destruction of the hair follicle, and the dense inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis is replaced by scar tissue (scarring alopecia is by definition associated with loss of hair follicles).

Acanthotic epidermis with a sawtooth pattern

Band-like lymphocytic infiltrate with lymphocytes nibbling at the epidermal basement membrane

Dense perifollicular inflammatory infiltrate

Dilation of the follicular ostium with plugging

Dilation of the follicular ostium with an orthokeratotic keratin plug

Civatte bodies (apoptotic keratinocytes)