Topical JAK Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata and Vitiligo

The document reviewed the use of topical JAK inhibitors for treating alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo, emphasizing the JAK-STAT pathway's role in disease pathogenesis and therapeutic potential. Key studies demonstrated that JAK inhibitors like tofacitinib and ruxolitinib could reverse AA and vitiligo by modulating immune responses. Notably, a 2014 study by Xing et al. showed AA driven by cytotoxic T lymphocytes could be reversed by JAK inhibition, and a 2016 report by Harris et al. indicated rapid skin repigmentation in a patient with both AA and vitiligo treated with oral ruxolitinib. The document also discussed preclinical evaluations, a phase 2a trial of topical tofacitinib for atopic dermatitis, and the potential of JAK-STAT signaling inhibition to promote hair growth and target epidermal cells in vitiligo.