Effectiveness of Baricitinib on Nail Alopecia Areata: A 48-Week Single-Center Retrospective Study

February 2026 in “ Clinical Drug Investigation ”

M. Starace, Francesca Pampaloni, Federico Quadrelli, Giulia Olivoni, Stephano Cedirian, Luca Rapparini, Francesca Bruni, Bianca Maria Piraccini

baricitinib Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor alopecia areata SALT score

From the encyclopedia

Baricitinib →

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

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Studysummary In this study, patients with severe alopecia areata who were treated with baricitinib 4 mg/day for 48 weeks showed significant improvements in both hair regrowth and nail abnormalities, although the correlation between hair and nail improvement was weak.

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

This study evaluated the effectiveness of baricitinib, a Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor, in treating nail manifestations in 37 patients with severe alopecia areata (AA) over 48 weeks. Patients received 4 mg/day of baricitinib, resulting in significant improvements in hair regrowth and nail abnormalities. The mean SALT score decreased from 100 to 16.3, and the average number of affected nails reduced from 6.4 to 2.1. Clinician Reported Outcome scores also showed significant improvement. Despite these positive results, the correlation between hair and nail improvement was weak, indicating different responsiveness. The study concludes that baricitinib is a promising treatment for nail involvement in AA, but acknowledges limitations such as the small sample size and lack of long-term data.

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