TLDR Simvastatin/ezetimibe may help treat new cases of alopecia areata but not long-term cases.
The document discussed the potential of simvastatin/ezetimibe as a treatment for alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disorder marked by T lymphocytic infiltrates around hair follicles. Statins were considered promising due to their modulation of the JAK/STAT pathway. Evidence suggested that statins might be effective for acute AA but not for chronic, longstanding cases. Animal studies indicated that statin treatment increased CD4+/CD25+/Foxp3+ populations in AA-affected mice.
14 citations
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January 2017 in “Skin appendage disorders” Simvastatin/ezetimibe did not effectively treat severe alopecia areata and caused side effects in some patients.
196 citations
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September 2016 in “JCI insight” Ruxolitinib effectively regrows hair in most patients with severe hair loss.
222 citations
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September 2016 in “JCI insight” Tofacitinib is safe and effective for severe alopecia areata, but hair loss may return 2 months after stopping treatment.
391 citations
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January 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Half of people with Alopecia Areata may see hair regrowth within a year without treatment, but recovery is unpredictable.
13 citations
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January 2017 in “Annals of dermatology/Annals of Dermatology” Simvastatin/ezetimibe may help some patients with severe alopecia areata regrow hair.
December 2023 in “EPRA international journal of multidisciplinary research” Alopecia areata causes sudden hair loss, has genetic links, and can be managed but not cured.
290 citations
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August 2021 in “Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology” JAK inhibitors show promise for treating alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
May 2023 in “Journal of Clinical Medicine” New understanding and treatments for hair loss are improving, but more research is needed.
82 citations
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March 2016 in “Autoimmunity reviews” Animal models have helped understand hair loss from alopecia areata and find new treatments.
