Opinion|Videos|March 4, 2025
Defining Alopecia Areata Severity and Navigating Treatment Options
Author(s)Susan Taylor, MD, FAAD
An expert discusses how treatment for alopecia areata begins with topical/intralesional therapies for limited disease and progresses to systemic options for extensive involvement or treatment resistance. Treatment decisions are guided by disease severity, patient age, comorbidities, and treatment goals. FDA-approved systemic agents include ritlecitinib (JAK3/TEC inhibitor) and baricitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor), which block inflammatory pathways to promote hair regrowth with favorable efficacy, though they require monitoring for potential adverse effects.
Advertisement
Episodes in this series
Video content above is prompted by the following:
- Describe your approach to initiating treatment in patients with alopecia areata. At what point do you consider systemic treatment for your patients?
- What factors guide your treatment decisions (severity, patient characteristics, patient expectations, etc)?
- Briefly discuss the systemic agents that are currently FDA approved for alopecia areata, including their mechanism of action as well as efficacy and safety data.
- Ritlecitinib (JAK3/TEC inhibitor)
- Baricitinib (JAK 1/2 inhibitor)
Advertisement
Related to this article
A retrospective claims analysis of 2897 matched pairs found hazard ratios of 0.48 to 0.67 for new atopic disease with dupilumab vs systemic corticosteroids in children.
Disc Medicine reports the phase 3 APOLLO trial met all primary and secondary end points, with whole-blood PPIX reduced 41.4% vs placebo and an NDA resubmission planned by end of 2026.
Castor oil has become a popular social media remedy for thicker, longer hair, but evidence supporting its ability to stimulate hair growth remains limited.
The FDA clearance allows Edesa to expand an ongoing placebo-controlled study of the CXCL10 antibody EB06 to US sites, with topline data expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The novel oral helicase-primase inhibitor demonstrated significantly higher rates of complete lesion healing compared with investigator’s choice treatment in the phase 3 PRIOH-1 trial.
Prospective data suggest DecisionDx-Melanoma may help refine SLNB decisions and identify recurrence risk beyond conventional staging.
Falk G. Bechara, MD, discusses long-term tunnel control, structural damage, and the evolving role of biologics and surgery in HS care.
Galderma has agreed to acquire ZO Skin Health for $1.5 billion, adding the physician-dispensed skincare brand to a portfolio that already includes Cetaphil and Alastin.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Trending on Dermatology Times
1
Bitopertin Meets All End Points in Phase 3 APOLLO Trial for EPP
2
Social Media Mythbusters: Can Castor Oil Really Grow Hair?
3
EADV 2026 Atopic Dermatitis Highlights: Tilrekimig, RAC2 Inhibition, and Level Up Data
4
Dupilumab Associated With Lower Atopic March Risk in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis
5