Season 7, Episode 9: Baricitinib for Pediatric Alopecia Areata: Promising Results and Future Directions

Welcome to another episode of the Evidence-Based Hair Podcast. In this episode, Dr. Donovan delves into an insightful study by Zhao and colleagues, published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, titled "Baricitinib Therapy for Pediatric Patients with Severe Alopecia Areata." This episode continues the June series dedicated to JAK inhibitors. Dr. Donovan highlights the increasing global use of these medications for treating severe alopecia areata, including the recent approvals of baricitinib and ritlicitinib. The featured study examines the effectiveness and safety of baricitinib in treating children with severe alopecia areata, focusing on a small group of 10 patients aged between under two years to 13 years. The results reveal promising regrowth and mild side effects, underscoring the potential of baricitinib for younger patients. Dr. Donovan discusses the broader implications of these findings, including the likelihood of future approvals for younger age groups and the importance of long-term safety data. He emphasizes the need for ongoing research and real-world studies to better understand the prolonged effects of JAK inhibitors. Join Dr. Donovan next week for the final episode of the June series, where he will explore a study on the use of topical tofacitinib for treating lichen planopilaris and frontal fibrosing alopecia.