TLDR Some drugs used to treat immune conditions may cause different types of hair loss.
A decade ago, Lindsey and Tosti conducted a study that found Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, drugs used to treat immune-mediated conditions, could cause various types of hair loss. They identified 62 cases of hair loss during therapy with TNF-α inhibitors from January 1998 to August 2013. The types of hair loss included alopecia areata, psoriatic alopecia, lichen planopilaris, drug-induced lupus erythematosus, androgenetic alopecia, and telogen effluvium. Alopecia was also mentioned as a side effect in three clinical trials and in FDA postmarketing surveillance. The researchers concluded that TNF-α inhibitors could cause severe alopecia areata and scarring alopecia, but noted a lack of controlled trials studying this condition. They recommended switching medication in patients with alopecia areata or psoriatic alopecia occurring during anti TNF-α therapy and suggested the application of topical steroids under occlusion.
49 citations
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January 2012 in “Dermatology” Severe anti-TNF-α induced scalp eruptions often need stopping the drug and using systemic therapy to avoid scarring.
16 citations
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January 2012 in “International Journal of Rheumatology” Anti-TNF therapy can cause weight gain and hair loss, leading some patients to stop treatment.
72 citations
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February 2011 in “The American Journal of Dermatopathology” Anti-TNF therapy can cause a unique type of hair loss that may get better with topical treatments without stopping the therapy.
61 citations
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June 2010 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Anti-TNF-α therapy may increase the risk of developing alopecia areata, especially in those with a history of autoimmune disease.
38 citations
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January 2009 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” A woman developed hair loss after starting a treatment with adalimumab, suggesting this medication might cause hair loss.
39 citations
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March 2008 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Etanercept may cause lichen planopilaris, so doctors should be cautious.
69 citations
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December 2006 in “Archives of dermatology” Adalimumab may cause severe hair loss in some patients.
75 citations
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June 2005 in “Archives of Dermatology” Etanercept may not prevent alopecia areata from coming back.
2 citations
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March 2015 in “Expert opinion on orphan drugs” New treatments for hair loss show promise but need more research to confirm safety and effectiveness.
A girl with Crohn's disease developed hair loss due to her increased medication, a rare side effect seen in some children.
6 citations
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May 2018 in “Zeitschrift für Rheumatologie” A woman with rheumatoid arthritis lost all her hair during adalimumab treatment, and stopping the drug didn't help.
15 citations
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March 2021 in “Journal of clinical medicine” Biologic treatments for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can cause skin problems, and doctors should adjust treatment if these occur.
2 citations
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March 2023 in “Frontiers in medicine” A 15-year-old boy's severe scalp condition improved significantly with adalimumab and baricitinib treatment.
