Alopecia – New Building Blocks

The document discusses the challenges of diagnosing and treating hair loss, or alopecia, and highlights recent advances in the field. It emphasizes the importance of educating dermatologists and primary care providers on identifying and distinguishing between different types of hair loss, and how to manage them. The document mentions the approval of baricitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, for alopecia areata by the FDA in 2022, which has increased awareness of the disease. Other Janus kinase inhibitors are also in phase 3 trials. The document also discusses the use of low-dose oral minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia, which has gained popularity since its first use in 2018 due to its tolerability and minimal side effects. The document concludes by emphasizing the importance of patient counseling in managing alopecia, and the need for dermatologists to develop a tiered approach to treating patients with alopecia.