Alopecia Areata Treatment: Past, Present, And Future

December 2024 in “ Dermatological Reviews ”

Eliana L. Jolkovsky, David J. Goldberg

Alopecia Areata autoimmune disorder JAK inhibitors baricitinib ritlecitinib deuruxolitinib corticosteroid injections topical minoxidil contact immunotherapy red-laser light therapy stem cell therapy gene therapy energy-assisted drug delivery AA minoxidil Rogaine LEADD

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Baricitinib →

JAK inhibitor that reduces inflammation and immune attacks on hair follicles, leading to potential hair regrowth, especially in alopecia areata cases

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This review highlights significant advances in understanding and treating Alopecia Areata, emphasizing the effectiveness of JAK inhibitors like baricitinib, ritlecitinib, and deuruxolitinib for systemic treatment, while also noting ongoing research into new therapeutic approaches such as stem cell therapy and energy-assisted drug delivery.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

Alopecia Areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder causing non-scarring hair loss, and its treatment has evolved significantly over the past century. Historically, caustic topical agents were the primary treatment, but recent advancements have identified the autoimmune, genetic, and psychosocial factors involved in AA. This has led to the development of systemic treatments like JAK inhibitors, including baricitinib, ritlecitinib, and deuruxolitinib, which have been FDA-approved and shown to be effective. Non-systemic treatments such as corticosteroid injections, topical minoxidil, contact immunotherapy, and red-laser light therapy also remain effective. Future research is directed towards exploring stem cell therapy, gene therapy, and energy-assisted drug delivery (LEADD) as potential treatments for AA.

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Research cited in this study

52 / 52 results

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63 citations , July 2024 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

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$Effective Treatment of Refractory Alopecia Areata in Pediatric Patients With Oral Abrocitinib$

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