TLDR Tofacitinib helped regrow hair in people with severe alopecia, but side effects occurred and benefits stopped after treatment ended.
In a retrospective study at the Cleveland Clinic involving 13 patients with severe alopecia areata (AA), treatment with oral tofacitinib resulted in a mean hair regrowth rate of 44.3%, with over half of the patients experiencing at least 50% regrowth. The average time to see hair regrowth was 4.2 months. However, some adverse events were reported, including a skin eruption and peripheral edema in one patient, and reversible lipid and liver abnormalities in two patients. The study indicated that while tofacitinib is effective for AA, the benefits ceased after stopping the treatment. The findings are limited by the lack of a control group and the small number of participants.
196 citations,
September 2016 in “JCI insight” Ruxolitinib effectively regrows hair in most patients with severe hair loss.
222 citations,
September 2016 in “JCI insight” Tofacitinib is safe and effective for severe alopecia areata, but hair loss may return 2 months after stopping treatment.
70 citations,
April 2016 in “Experimental Dermatology” A patient with alopecia areata regrew hair after taking tofacitinib and showed changes in certain blood and skin markers.
701 citations,
August 2014 in “Nature medicine” Alopecia areata can be reversed by JAK inhibitors, promoting hair regrowth.
Tofacitinib helped a woman with total-body hair loss grow her hair back.
1 citations,
September 2022 in “International Journal of Trichology” Tofacitinib can be effective in treating hair loss caused by alopecia areata.
4 citations,
July 2018 in “PubMed” Oral and topical tofacitinib can help regrow hair in people with severe alopecia areata.
24 citations,
January 2018 in “International Journal of Trichology” Tofacitinib helped regrow hair in patients with alopecia, with few side effects.
16 citations,
January 2017 in “Acta dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica (Tiskana izd.)” A patient with complete hair loss regrew all her hair using tofacitinib.
5 citations,
June 2015 in “Veterinary dermatology” A dog with complete hair loss regrew most hair after treatment, with no relapse after stopping treatment.
39 citations,
April 2003 in “Australasian journal of dermatology” PUVA treatment led to significant hair regrowth in over half of the patients with alopecia areata totalis and universalis.
