Alopecia Areata Triggered by Psychological Stress and Successfully Treated with a Janus Kinase Inhibitor: Case Report

August 2022 in “ Revista de la Universidad Industrial de Santander/Salud UIS ”

Angélica María González-Clavijo, Johiner Jahir Vanegas-Antolinez, Heitmar Santiago Infante-Fernández, Katerine Quintero, Sebastián Parrado, Santiago Piñeros, C Ochoa

alopecia areata psychological stress Janus kinase inhibitor topical corticosteroids tofacitinib corticotropin releasing hormone inflammatory environment immune protection hair follicles autoimmune hair loss JAK inhibitor corticosteroids

TLDR Stress-related hair loss was reversed with a special medication.

A 37-year-old woman with alopecia areata experienced complete hair loss after the stress of a twin pregnancy announcement. After lactation, she was treated with topical corticosteroids and tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, which led to hair regrowth. This case supports the role of psychological stress in triggering alopecia areata by increasing corticotropin releasing hormone and creating an inflammatory environment that compromises the immune protection of hair follicles. The successful treatment with a Janus kinase inhibitor highlights the potential of targeting this pathway in autoimmune hair loss conditions.

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