TLDR Baricitinib helped a woman with severe hair loss regrow almost all her hair without side effects.
In a case report from 2019, a woman in her 60s with severe alopecia areata (AA), characterized by complete scalp and near-complete body hair loss, was treated with the Janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor, baricitinib. Initially, she received 2 mg daily without hair regrowth after 4 months, but upon increasing the dose to 4 mg daily, she experienced 97% scalp hair regrowth after 8 months, as well as regrowth of eyebrows and eyelashes. After 13 months of treatment, no adverse effects were reported. This case is notable as it is the first report of a patient with AA successfully treated with baricitinib monotherapy. The case adds to the evidence supporting the efficacy of JAK inhibitors for AA and highlights the potential of baricitinib, a relatively new JAK1/2 inhibitor, in treating severe cases of AA.
290 citations,
December 2017 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss, influenced by genetics, stress, and diet, and may be prevented by a high soy oil diet.
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.
196 citations,
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222 citations,
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95 citations,
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184 citations,
February 2015 in “EBioMedicine” A patient with Alopecia Areata had complete hair regrowth after using the drug baricitinib.
701 citations,
August 2014 in “Nature medicine” Alopecia areata can be reversed by JAK inhibitors, promoting hair regrowth.
April 2019 in “International journal of research in dermatology” A child with rough nails also had hair loss and allergies.
