Alopecia Areata: Medical Treatments

The 2015 document reviews medical treatments for alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune hair loss condition, discussing the role of T cells in its pathogenesis and various treatment options. Treatments include corticosteroids, topical irritants, minoxidil, cytotoxic drugs, biologicals, and new therapies like JAK inhibitors. The document notes that while conventional therapies like intralesional steroid injections remain effective, the efficacy of biological treatments has generally been unsatisfactory. However, the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib shows promise with hair regrowth observed in a mouse model. Other potential future treatments involve interleukin injections and targeting lymphocyte reactions. The review also mentions the importance of considering side effects when using immunosuppressants like methotrexate for extensive AA cases.