Article Spotlight 103: What about a JAK inhibitor?
So I heard about this new medication - can I try a JAK inhibitor?
I get this question all of the time. And truthfully — it depends.
I am so thankful that we have new medication options in the pipeline for hair loss. Oral JAK inhibitors, topical JAK inhibitors, oral minoxidil — oh my! The truth is that JAK inhibitors are a huge, recent innovation in hair loss and they work wonders. However, they are mainly for one type of alopecia, alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is a type of non-scarring hair loss that results from the body attacking your hair follicles (autoimmune). Round or coin-shaped, smooth areas of hair loss are most typical, though it can involve all scalp or even all body hair. The latter represent more severe forms.
JAK inhibitors are a relatively new type of medication that lowers the body’s immune system, therefore decreasing the attack on your hair follicles. The medication works very well, with few side effects including lab abnormalities and acne. There is also a risk of rebound hair loss when stopping the medication.
The truth is, it doesn’t work for all types of hair loss. But, if you have severe alopecia areata, this medication offers hope!
Citation: King B, Ohyama M, Kwon O, Zlotogorski A, Ko J, Mesinkovska NA, Hordinsky M, Dutronc Y, Wu WS, McCollam J, Chiasserini C, Yu G, Stanley S, Holzwarth K, DeLozier AM, Sinclair R; BRAVE-AA Investigators. Two Phase 3 Trials of Baricitinib for Alopecia Areata. N Engl J Med. 2022 May 5;386(18):1687-1699. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2110343. Epub 2022 Mar 26. PMID: 35334197.