Dermatologists have discovered a class of drugs that could help in the treatment of alopecia, dermatitis, and vitiligo. This is a new study in dermatology that could be a great help for people who suffers from the said conditions. Physical appearance could reflect and affect the holistic being of a person.
The study was pioneered by Brett King, MD, MPH, FAAD an assistant professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. According to Science Daily, Dr. King is on his way to a research in a class of drugs known as Janus Kinase Inhibitors or JAK inhibitors. Recent studies suggest that these drugs can alter the immune response that induces alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, and vitiligo.
Alopecia areata is a condition manifested by patchy or total hair loss. Atopic dermatitis causes severe itch and red flash while vitiligo causes the skin to lose its color. All of these conditions are linked to immune response, thus, the treatment for them is also the same. JAK inhibitors may have the ability to treat these conditions, as stated by King.
Furthermore, as reported by Medscape, there are two JAK inhibitors that have shown promise for Alopecia areata. Ruxolitinib and tofacitinib are two of the drugs that were utilized in the study. These drugs were used to treat myelofibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis respectively.
The off-label use of JAK inhibitor was executed by Dr. King after researchers at Columbia University in New York used these medications to treat alopecia areata in mice. After observing hair regrowth in patients, he also tried the drugs with patients suffering from atopic dermatitis and vitiligo. The treatment of all three conditions has proven significant improvements.
The results of the study were promising, however, JAK inhibitors are not currently approved by FDA for the treatment of alopecia, dermatitis, and vitiligo. Dr. King suggests that pharmaceutical companies should conduct large-scale clinical trials. If these medications will be approved, they can be a powerful tool for a dermatologist to battle skin conditions.
