One of the Best Treatments for Alopecia Areata Remains Unpublished

The editorial highlighted the effectiveness of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) as a sensitizer for treating alopecia areata (AA), a method used extensively by Dr. Sigfrid Muller at the Mayo Clinic. Despite its mutagenic potential indicated by the Ames test, DNCB provided long-term hair regrowth for many patients without significant adverse effects over 25 years. Although newer sensitizers like dibutyl squaric acid and diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) are available, they were less effective. The editorial also mentioned the promising results of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for AA but raised concerns about their long-term safety and cost.