The Good and Bad News About New Drugs for Treating Alopecia Areata

December 2017 in “ Actas dermo-sifiliográficas/Actas dermo-sifiliográficas ”

Daniel Morgado‐Carrasco, Erika Rodríguez-Lobato, Josep Riera‐Monroig, Juan Ferrando

Alopecia Areata simvastatin ezetimibe Janus kinase inhibitors JAK inhibitors ruxolitinib tofacitinib AA statins

TLDR JAK inhibitors show promise for treating Alopecia Areata, while statins are not recommended.

The document discussed the effectiveness of new drugs for treating Alopecia Areata (AA). A 2015 study on 29 patients with moderate AA showed promising results with simvastatin and ezetimibe, but a similar study on 20 patients with severe AA showed minimal effects and some adverse reactions. In contrast, recent studies on Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, such as ruxolitinib and tofacitinib, showed significant hair regrowth in patients with moderate to severe AA, with ruxolitinib showing a 75% response rate and tofacitinib showing a 79% response rate. These findings suggested that JAK inhibitors could revolutionize AA treatment, while the use of statins was not recommended.

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Research cited in this study

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research Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata and Variants: A Study of 90 Patients

238 citations, November 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Tofacitinib is effective and safe for severe hair loss, but full regrowth is less likely after 10 years of hair loss.

research Oral Ruxolitinib Induces Hair Regrowth in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Alopecia Areata

196 citations, September 2016 in “JCI insight”

Ruxolitinib effectively regrows hair in most patients with severe hair loss.

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A user with alopecia totalis, borderline universalis, seeks advice on getting into a Xeljanz trial or appealing insurance for coverage. They experienced significant hair regrowth but are now seeing hair loss again and want to try Xeljanz.

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A 19-year-old male has been using topical finasteride and minoxidil for 8 months with no progress and is considering seeking a second opinion due to potential misdiagnosis. The discussion revolves around whether the hair loss is due to male pattern baldness, alopecia areata, or a vitamin deficiency.

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A user with alopecia areata is considering treatment options like injections or Olumiant but is concerned about cost and whether delaying treatment will lead to permanent hair loss. They are seeking alternative treatments that are more affordable for a college student.

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in Treatment 1 upvotes 1 year ago

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community Nearly 40% of Adults with Alopecia Areata Taking OLUMIANT® 4-mg Saw at Least 80% Scalp Hair Coverage at 52 Weeks

in Research/Science 6 upvotes 2 years ago

Nearly 40% of adults with alopecia areata achieved at least 80% scalp hair coverage after 52 weeks of taking OLUMIANT® 4-mg. The conversation distinguishes this success from androgenetic alopecia, which is a different type of hair loss.

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research Twenty Nail Dystrophy with Alopecia Areata in an Atopic Child

April 2019 in “International journal of research in dermatology”

A child with rough nails also had hair loss and allergies.