TLDR Tofacitinib improved hair and nail conditions in a teen with alopecia areata.
A 14-year-old male with alopecia areata subtotalis and trachyonychia showed significant improvement after treatment with oral tofacitinib, a JAK inhibitor. Previous treatments with betamethasone and cyclosporine were ineffective for his nail condition. Tofacitinib, combined with topical minoxidil, led to complete hair regrowth and improved nail texture within 6 months, with the disease remaining in remission 6 months post-treatment. This case highlights tofacitinib's potential in treating resistant nail changes in alopecia areata, though further research is needed to confirm these findings.
January 2024 in “Skin Research and Technology” Oral tofacitinib may be an effective future treatment for children with severe alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
January 2024 in “Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine” Baricitinib may effectively treat nail changes in alopecia areata.
November 2023 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Tofacitinib is effective and has minor, reversible side effects for treating severe hair loss in Iran.
7 citations,
March 2021 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Tofacitinib can regrow hair in alopecia areata patients, but some may experience flares during treatment.
Tofacitinib helped a woman with total-body hair loss grow her hair back.
October 2022 in “Journal of Armed Forces Medical College, Bangladesh” Tofacitinib is effective and safe for treating alopecia areata.
4 citations,
July 2018 in “PubMed” Oral and topical tofacitinib can help regrow hair in people with severe alopecia areata.
16 citations,
July 2017 in “Rheumatology and Therapy” Tofacitinib, a medication for arthritis, showed potential for treating severe hair loss in a small Brazilian case series, but more research is needed.
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.
