TLDR Oral tofacitinib can significantly improve recalcitrant lichen planopilaris.
In this case series, 10 patients with recalcitrant lichen planopilaris (LPP) were treated with oral tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, at doses of 5 mg twice or three times daily for 2–19 months. The treatment was administered either as monotherapy or in combination with other therapies. Eight patients showed clinical improvement, with significant reductions in the LPP Activity Index (LPPAI) from an average of 6.22 before treatment to 3.08 after treatment (p = .0014), indicating a reduction in LPPAI ranging from 30 to 94%. One patient experienced a 10-pound weight gain, but no other adverse effects were reported. The study concluded that oral tofacitinib could lead to measurable improvement in recalcitrant LPP.
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,
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.
701 citations,
August 2014 in “Nature medicine” Alopecia areata can be reversed by JAK inhibitors, promoting hair regrowth.
220 citations,
June 2013 in “The Journal of Pathology” 
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March 2013 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” No effective treatment for frontal fibrosing alopecia was found, but oral 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors had the best response; for lichen planopilaris, topical corticosteroids were commonly used but had a high relapse rate.
44 citations,
April 2012 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Scarring alopecias are complex hair loss disorders that require early treatment to prevent permanent hair loss.
24 citations,
January 2018 in “International Journal of Trichology” Tofacitinib helped regrow hair in patients with alopecia, with few side effects.
