Drug Points: Remission of Alopecia Universalis During Sulphasalazine Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

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.

An arthritis drug restored significant hair in people with alopecia areata, but it is not effective for male pattern baldness. The drug, Upadacitinib, has serious side effects and is expensive.

Oral minoxidil and spironolactone helped restore the hairline but not the scalp behind it. Hairline and temples often respond first to treatment, with mid-scalp and crown following later.

A 33-year-old male restarted finasteride after stopping it to conceive, noticing hair loss, especially in the crown area. His current routine includes finasteride, minoxidil, ketoconazole, and microneedling, and he plans to continue this treatment for 18 months before making any major changes.

A person with alopecia universalis is considering using Xeljanz but is advised that Olumiant is more effective for their condition. They are under a dermatologist's care and should expect gradual progress, as follicles dormant for 20 years are challenging to reactivate.

The user is experiencing diffuse thinning and inflammation despite using 2.5mg dutasteride daily, ciclopirox, and ketoconazole shampoos. They are considering treatments like hydroxychloroquine and JAK inhibitors due to suspected scarring alopecia and have faced challenges in obtaining a scalp biopsy.