The Talk of the Town: JAK Inhibitors in Alopecia

Host Sonal Choudhary, MD, and Apple Bodemer, MD, a Dermatologist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, discuss the game-changing role that Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors play in treating alopecia areata. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three JAK inhibitors— baricitinib (Olumiant, Eli Lilly & Co.)  , ritlecitinib (Litfulo, Pfizer) , and deuruxolitinib(Leqselvi, Sun Pharma)  —as treatments for alopecia areata.

Key takeaways:

• These medications, while highly effective, can increase risk for infections, but integrative approaches may help keep the immune system optimized.

• People with celiac disease and alopecia areata who follow gluten-free diets may regrow hair.