TLDR A man with severe hair loss saw hair and nail improvement after 10 months on tofacitinib without side effects.
In 2016, a 38-year-old male with alopecia areata universalis experienced significant hair regrowth and nail improvement after 10 months of treatment with tofacitinib, a drug mainly used for rheumatoid arthritis. Despite failing to respond to previous treatments like corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and PUVA therapy, the patient saw hair return on his scalp, face, and body, and his nail structure normalized, which allowed him to play the guitar again. No negative side effects or lab abnormalities were reported. The case indicates tofacitinib's potential as a treatment for AAU with nail changes, though randomized clinical trials are needed for further validation.
14 citations,
November 2016 in “Annals of Internal Medicine” Tofacitinib, an arthritis drug, helped hair growth in alopecia universalis but long-term safety needs more research.
24 citations,
June 2016 in “Acta dermato-venereologica” Tofacitinib helped a young woman's severe hair loss and arthritis but not her plaque psoriasis.
39 citations,
April 2016 in “Case Reports in Dermatology” Tofacitinib temporarily regrew hair in a man with alopecia, but its effects didn't last.
41 citations,
December 2015 in “JAMA Dermatology” Tofacitinib citrate improved nail dystrophy and pain in patients with alopecia universalis without causing side effects.
701 citations,
August 2014 in “Nature medicine” Alopecia areata can be reversed by JAK inhibitors, promoting hair regrowth.
185 citations,
June 2014 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” A man with severe hair loss and skin disease regrew his hair with no side effects after taking tofacitinib.
10 citations,
January 2013 in “International Journal of Trichology” Systemic steroids effectively treated severe nail issues in a card illusionist with alopecia areata.
295 citations,
January 2006 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Alopecia areata, a common autoimmune hair loss condition, often runs in families.
6 citations,
March 2019 in “JAAD case reports” A new mix of anthralin and calcipotriene might help treat severe hair loss.
148 citations,
December 2018 in “Journal of autoimmunity” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.
4 citations,
November 2018 in “JAAD case reports” Alopecia areata can sometimes appear as a straight line of hair loss instead of round patches.
4 citations,
July 2018 in “PubMed” Oral and topical tofacitinib can help regrow hair in people with severe alopecia areata.
May 2018 in “Journal of cosmetology & trichology” Combining platelet-rich plasma therapy with prostaglandin-F eye drops can significantly regrow hair in alopecia universalis.
110 citations,
December 2013 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings” Alopecia areata is a genetic and immune-related hair loss condition that is often associated with other autoimmune diseases and does not typically cause permanent damage to hair follicles.
