Topical 2% Tofacitinib for Children with Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, and Alopecia Universalis

In a study from June 1, 2018, researchers assessed the effectiveness of 2% topical tofacitinib in 11 pediatric patients, aged 4 to 16, with alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis who had not responded to previous treatments. After using the topical tofacitinib for an average of 34.5 weeks, patients experienced an average 32.3% decrease in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scores, with 8 showing improvement and 3 achieving cosmetically acceptable hair regrowth. The treatment was generally well-tolerated, with only one instance of application-site irritation and no serious side effects reported. The study suggested that topical tofacitinib could be a viable second-line treatment for these conditions, but highlighted the need for larger, controlled studies to confirm its efficacy and identify predictors of a positive response.