Alopecia Areata Associated With Dupilumab: A Case Report And Literature Review

July 2025

Vignesh Ramachandran

alopecia areata dupilumab atopic dermatitis Th1/Th17 pathways autoimmune condition hair loss follicular homeostasis

Studysummary This case report details a 47-year-old female with atopic dermatitis who developed alopecia areata after six months on dupilumab therapy; treatment discontinuation and other interventions led to complete hair regrowth, suggesting dupilumab may trigger alopecia areata in patients with atopic or autoimmune predispositions.

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

This case report and literature review discuss a rare adverse effect of dupilumab, a treatment for atopic dermatitis, which may trigger alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune condition causing hair loss. A 47-year-old female developed AA after six months on dupilumab, but experienced complete hair regrowth within 12 weeks after stopping the drug and starting a new treatment regimen. The case suggests dupilumab may disrupt follicular homeostasis or enhance Th1/Th17 pathways, leading to AA. Clinicians should monitor for AA in patients on dupilumab, especially those with atopic or autoimmune predispositions. The report calls for further research to understand the mechanisms and risk factors, and emphasizes the importance of routine scalp examinations and patient education for early detection of hair loss.

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research Dupilumab Therapy for Alopecia Areata: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

15 citations , February 2024 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

This study observed that dupilumab may promote hair regrowth in alopecia areata patients, achieving significant results in a majority of cases without reported adverse events.

research Dupilumab Therapy for Alopecia Areata in a 4-Year-Old Patient Resistant to Baricitinib

October 2023 in “Frontiers in Medicine”

In a reported case, researchers observed full hair regrowth on the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes of a 4-year-old with alopecia universalis after 10 months of treatment with dupilumab, following resistance to baricitinib.

research Dupilumab for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Children with Atopic Dermatitis

7 citations , July 2021 in “JAAD case reports”

This review discusses the potential of dupilumab for treating alopecia areata, reporting mixed outcomes with both improvement and new-onset hair loss observed in case reports.

research Early Onset of Alopecia Areata After Dupilumab Introduction in a Patient With Atopic Dermatitis

18 citations , October 2019 in “European Journal of Dermatology”

This article reviews treatment options for pityriasis rubra pilaris but reports no new clinical findings, often noting treatments as unsuccessful.

research Reactivation of Alopecia Areata After Dupilumab Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis

12 citations , August 2019 in “Dermatitis”

This case report describes a 42-year-old woman with atopic dermatitis, whose alopecia areata reactivated rapidly after starting dupilumab, possibly indicating an unrecognized adverse effect in AD patients.

research Alopecia Areata in 2 Patients Treated with Dupilumab: New Onset and Worsening

26 citations , July 2019 in “JAAD Case Reports”

This study reports two cases of hair loss outcomes in patients using dupilumab for atopic dermatitis, with one showing improvement in alopecia universalis and another experiencing worsening of alopecia totalis.

research Alopecia Areata in Severe Atopic Dermatitis Treated With Dupilumab

49 citations , December 2018 in “Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology”

Dupilumab may cause hair loss in some patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

research Drug-Induced Alopecia After Dupilumab Therapy

49 citations , December 2018 in “JAAD case reports”

This case report describes a patient who developed alopecia after 18 weeks of treatment with dupilumab for atopic dermatitis.

research Alopecia Areata After Dupilumab for Atopic Dermatitis

53 citations , January 2018 in “JAAD case reports”

This report describes the case of a patient who developed alopecia areata within five weeks of starting treatment for atopic dermatitis with dupilumab.