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Maddi Hebebrand is an associate editor of 

and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in May 2024. She attended Baldwin Wallace University, studying Media Production and Film, and is now finishing her Masters in Digital Media through Ohio University. When she's not writing, Maddi loves to read, attend concerts and spend time with her family.

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 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in October 2024. She attended Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with minors in marketing and writing. When she’s not writing, Marie enjoys going to concerts, reading on the beach, and spending time with friends and family.

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At week 24, the proportion of Asian patients achieving significant hair regrowth (SALT ≤20) was substantially higher in ritlecitinib treatment groups than in placebo groups.

Ritlecitinib Demonstrates Effectiveness in Subgroup Analysis of Asian Patients

According to a clinical trial and in vitro study, TTFE can promote scalp health and hair growth by 96.88% while reducing inflammation.

Thermus Thermophilus Fermentation Extract Can Treat Androgenic Alopecia 

A two-set Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a genetic correlation between depression and androgenetic alopecia.

Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia Have a Higher Risk of Depression

Patients aged 6 to 12 had little to no adverse events and no pharmacokinetic abnormalities were noted.

Ritlecitinib Generally Well-Tolerated in Pediatric Patients with Alopecia, According to Phase 1 Study

Clinicians observed a positive relationship between scalp hair regrowth and downstream treatment benefits for patients with alopecia areata.

Post-Hoc Analysis of ALLEGRO-2b/3 Trial Highlights Patient-Reported Outcome Improvements

Laboratory Monitoring for JAK Inhibitors and Key Takeaways

Video content above is prompted by the following: 

Given this patient’s clinical picture, what initial dosing would you recommend?

What monitoring should be done before and during treatment with baricitinib? How does this differ from monitoring with ritlecitinib?

What can this patient expect in terms of efficacy and safety with baricitinib?

When would topical immunotherapy be considered for patients with severe alopecia areata? How do you decide between topical immunotherapy and JAK inhibitors for your patients?

Based on our discussion today, what key insights or new perspectives could you share regarding treatment considerations for severe alopecia areata?

What treatment gaps remain in alopecia areata management?

What take-home messages or practice pearls do you have for clinicians treating patients with alopecia areata?

Videos

An expert discusses a comprehensive review of treatment options for a 32-year-old woman with alopecia areata, covering baricitinib dosing (4 mg initially), monitoring requirements vs ritlecitinib, expected outcomes, and considerations for topical immunotherapy vs JAK inhibitors.

Video Series

Options for Eyebrow and Eyelash Regrowth in a 32-Year-Old Female With Alopecia Areata

Please provide your initial impressions of this case. What are key aspects of this case to consider in your plan for management?

What options would this patient have for regrowing her eyebrows and eyelashes?

Describe your approach to treatment options for this patient. What is your assessment of this patient’s disease severity?

An expert discusses a 32-year-old woman with alopecia areata affecting eyebrows/eyelashes. Treatment options include topical/intralesional steroids, minoxidil, prostaglandin analogues, JAK inhibitors, and cosmetic approaches.

Discussing Efficacy and Safety of JAK Inhibitors With Patients and Caregivers

•	Discuss the potential impact of untreated alopecia areata on a patient’s mental health, particularly in the adolescent patient population.
•	What strategies can be used to address the psychosocial impact of alopecia areata in adolescents?

•	How would you define the severity of this patient’s alopecia areata? How does the SALT score aid in determining severity and treatment approach?
•	Describe your approach to pharmacologic treatment for this patient.
•	What are your treatment goals, and how would you communicate these goals to the patient?
•	What should this patient expect in terms of effectiveness with ritlecitinib? How would you discuss an expected timeline for hair regrowth with this patient and his family?
•	What monitoring should be done before and during treatment with ritlecitinib?
•	How would you discuss potential adverse effects of ritlecitinib with this patient? What should he and his family be aware of in terms of serious adverse events?
•	Would you combine any other treatments (oral/topical minoxidil, oral/topical corticosteroids) with ritlecitinib?
•	Discuss the importance of treatment adherence/persistence for ritlecitinib effectiveness. Will hair growth remain after treatment discontinuation?


An expert discusses how alopecia areata significantly affects adolescent mental health. Treatment with ritlecitinib requires proper severity assessment via Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score, clear communication of realistic timelines and goals, careful monitoring, and discussion of potential adverse effects. Long-term adherence is crucial for maintaining results.

Patient Considerations for Selecting Treatment for a 16-Year-Old Male With Severe Alopecia Areata

Please share your impressions of the case. What aspects of the case are most relevant for treatment consideration?

An expert discusses how treatment for this adolescent boy with severe alopecia areata must balance efficacy with age-appropriate safety, considering psychological impact, growth/development factors, and family preferences while selecting among topical, intralesional, systemic, or emerging biologic options.

“This study we presented here for the first time is just dedicated to adolescents. It is the largest study of a JAK inhibitor dedicated to adolescents with severe alopecia areata,” said Anabela Cardoso, MD, in an interview at the 

2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting

Cardoso, the senior vice president of immunology medical affairs at Eli Lilly and Company, discussed pivotal findings on baricitinib (Olumiant; Lilly/Incyte) for adolescents with severe alopecia areata during an AAD late-breaker session. The data demonstrated that adolescent patients (aged 12 to 18 years) with severe alopecia areata treated with once-daily, oral baricitinib 4 mg and 2 mg saw clinically meaningful improvements in hair regrowth on the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes at week 36.

The primary end point of the study was a Severity of Alopecia Tool score ≤20 (80% or more scalp hair coverage) at week 36. At the start of the study, patients had an average of 89% scalp hair loss (near total hair loss), 65% had minimal or no eyebrow hair (clinician-reported outcome [ClinRO] score of 2 or 3), and 57% had minimal or no eyelash hair (ClinRO score of 2 or 3).

Late-Breaking Data: Baricitinib Shows Rapid Hair Regrowth in Adolescents With Severe Alopecia Areata 

Alopecia areata affects both adults and adolescents, with approximately 40% of cases beginning before age 20. Early-onset disease carries a significant psychosocial burden, impacting self-esteem, social interactions, and mental health, making effective treatment crucial for this high unmet need population.

The phase 3 BRAVE-AA-PEDS trial was a dedicated adolescent study on baricitinib, the largest JAK inhibitor study for this population, and enrolled 250 patients with severe alopecia areata, many of whom had complete or near-complete scalp hair loss. Compared to adults, adolescents presented with more severe disease, yet baricitinib demonstrated faster efficacy in this group. At 36 weeks, approximately 60% of patients achieved ≥50% hair regrowth, a milestone that took one year in adults, highlighting potentially accelerated responsiveness in younger patients.

According to Cardoso, safety considerations were a key focus, given baricitinib’s status as a JAK inhibitor. The study’s safety profile was consistent with adult trials, reinforcing its potential as a well-tolerated option for adolescents. Cardoso noted baricitinib has been studied in over 800 patients aged 18 years, including those as young as 2 years old, and in more than 14,000 adults across various immune-mediated diseases.

The latest data shows baricitinib’s potential to fill a critical treatment gap for adolescents with severe alopecia areata, offering faster and effective hair regrowth with a well-established safety profile.

Passerson T. Baricitinib provides significant hair regrowth in adolescents with severe alopecia areata: 36-week efficacy and safety results from a phase 3 randomized, controlled trial. Presented at: 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. March 7-11, 2025; Orlando, FL.

Lilly's baricitinib delivered high rates of hair regrowth for adolescents with severe alopecia areata in Phase 3 BRAVE-AA-PEDS study. News release. Eli Lilly and Company. March 8, 2025. Accessed March 8, 2025. 

https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-baricitinib-delivered-high-rates-hair-regrowth

Baricitinib, a JAK inhibitor, has shown promising results in treating adolescents with severe alopecia areata, as demonstrated in the phase 3 BRAVE-AA-PEDS trial. The study, the largest of its kind for this demographic, revealed significant hair regrowth in patients aged 12 to 18 years, with 60% achieving at least 50% regrowth by week 36. This response was faster compared to adults. The safety profile was consistent with adult trials, suggesting baricitinib as a well-tolerated treatment option for this high unmet need population.

Anabela Cardoso, MD, provides data on the phase 3 BRAVE-AA-PEDS trial, the largest JAK inhibitor study dedicated to adolescents with severe alopecia areata, at AAD.

 Late-Breaking Data: Baricitinib Shows Rapid Hair Regrowth in Adolescents With Severe Alopecia Areata

“A lot of the initiatives that we have within the medical affairs team are really focused on trying to understand what's important to the dermatology community: what's important to dermatologists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, and being able to work with them to advance that,” said Patrick Burnett, MD, PhD, in an interview with 

Burnett, a board-certified dermatologist and the chief medical officer of Arcutis Biotherapeutics, recently discussed new pipeline updates from Arcutis expected in 2025. In a previous interview, Burnett reviewed Arcutis’ new initiative with Odell Beckham Jr. to 

bring more awareness to seborrheic dermatitis

 and the positive impact of roflumilast foam (Zoryve) 0.3%.

Regarding updates from Arcutis in 2025, Burnett is looking forward to the continued expansion of roflumilast foam for scalp and body psoriasis, a pivotal readout of data for a topical JAK inhibitor for alopecia areata, the introduction of ARQ-234 for atopic dermatitis, and additional engagement with dermatology clinicians through medical education initiatives.

Patrick Burnett, MD, PhD, shares key updates expected in 2025 for therapeutics treating atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and more. 

Pipeline Updates on the Horizon From Arcutis Biotherapeutics 

A key focus of Arcutis’ plans in 2025 includes the continued expansion of roflumilast foam. While already FDA-approved for seborrheic dermatitis, Arcutis expects FDA approval in May 2025 for an additional indication—scalp and body psoriasis. The company has also submitted a lower-dose formulation (0.05%) for atopic dermatitis in children aged 2 to 5 years, with approval anticipated later in the year. Given the high prevalence of pediatric atopic dermatitis, this expansion could significantly impact treatment options.

Beyond roflumilast, Arcutis is advancing its broader dermatology pipeline. The company expects a pivotal readout in the first half of 2025 for its topical JAK inhibitor in alopecia areata. While JAK inhibitors have shown efficacy in treating alopecia, delivering them topically remains a challenge, according to Burnett. A successful topical formulation could offer an early-stage treatment alternative before systemic therapy is required. Additionally, Arcutis plans to submit an investigational new drug IND application for ARQ-234, a CD200R agonist in development as a biologic therapy for atopic dermatitis.

Arcutis is also engaging closely with the dermatology community through medical education initiatives. One such effort focuses on improving the management of seborrheic dermatitis in patients with tightly coiled hair, a subset often underrepresented in clinical discussions. The company is also exploring how the rise of nonsteroidal topical treatments—including roflumilast—is reshaping treatment algorithms, historically centered on systemic therapies and biologics.

Burnett emphasized the importance of connecting product development with real-world patient impact. He cited the company’s collaboration with Odell Beckham Jr. as an example of how roflumilast foam has directly benefited individuals, reinforcing Arcutis’ commitment to patient-centered innovation.

Odell Beckham Jr. and Arcutis tackle seborrheic dermatitis in a “Clear Win for Your Skin.” News release. Arcutis Biotherapeutics. February 4, 2025. Accessed March 3, 2025. 

https://www.arcutis.com/odell-beckham-jr-and-arcutis-tackle-seborrheic-dermatitis-in-a-clear-win-for-your-skin/

Arcutis Biotherapeutics is set to expand its dermatology pipeline in 2025, focusing on roflumilast foam for scalp and body psoriasis, and a lower-dose formulation for pediatric atopic dermatitis. The company anticipates a pivotal readout for a topical JAK inhibitor in alopecia areata, aiming to offer an early-stage treatment alternative. Additionally, Arcutis plans to submit an IND application for ARQ-234, a biologic therapy for atopic dermatitis. The company emphasizes patient-centered innovation, engaging with the dermatology community through medical education initiatives and collaborations.

Patrick Burnett, MD, PhD, shares key updates expected in 2025 for therapeutics treating atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and more.

Pipeline Updates on the Horizon From Arcutis Biotherapeutics

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.

Defining Alopecia Areata Severity and Navigating Treatment Options

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.

An expert discusses how alopecia areata affects approximately 2% of the population globally, with onset typically in childhood or early adulthood. Patients often present with autoimmune comorbidities (thyroid disorders, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis) and psychological distress. Diagnostic challenges include differentiating from other hair loss conditions and predicting disease course. Treatment difficulties involve unpredictable responses, lack of standardized protocols, and addressing both physical symptoms and psychological impact.

Alopecia Areata Clinical Presentation and Challenges in Treatment

Discuss the prevalence of alopecia areata. What are some patient characteristics or comorbidities often seen in patients with alopecia areata?

What are some of the challenges of diagnosing and treating alopecia areata?

A patient-centered approach ensures that hair loss treatments align with individual goals and medical history.

Naiem Issa, MD, PhD, FAAD, Discusses Holistic Hair Loss Treatments at SBS 2025

 in Miami Beach, Naiem Issa, MD, PhD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist with Forefront Dermatology in Vienna, Virginia, discussed the holistic approach to treating hair loss. In an interview with Dermatology Times, Issa, who also serves as the director of clinical trials for Forefront and holds academic positions at the University of Miami, George Washington University, and West Virginia University, emphasized the importance of combining medical and interventional therapies in managing hair loss.

Issa stated, "Medical and interventional therapies don't have to be mutually exclusive. I always look at them as in tandem, because certain people want certain things." He explained that the approach should focus on both stimulating hair growth and maintaining scalp health. According to Issa, every patient’s needs and preferences vary, and treatment plans should be personalized to accommodate those differences. Options range from medical therapies to procedural interventions such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, stem cell therapy, and hair transplants.

Discussing PRP therapy, Issa described it as "quite an effective approach." However, he acknowledged the variations in its preparation, noting that "there are different ways of preparing PRP depending on how you centrifuge it, what is activating the platelet component." While numerous studies highlight the benefits of PRP, inconsistencies exist in determining the best protocols. Despite this, Issa reported that he utilizes PRP therapy for approximately 95% of his hair loss patients, provided they are suitable candidates. He cautioned that PRP should not be used for individuals with contraindications such as hemophilia or metastatic malignancies.

Regarding scarring alopecia, Issa categorized it as a challenging condition due to its inflammatory nature. He explained that treatment should address 2 primary factors: reducing inflammation and promoting hair regeneration. "Think of them as 2 buckets," he said. Treatment often involves topical or oral anti-inflammatory medications, alongside regenerative techniques such as PRP or microneedling. However, he warned of the potential risk of "kebnerization," where certain interventions paradoxically exacerbate the disease.

Issa also highlighted emerging treatments for scarring alopecia, including laser and light therapies such as narrow-band UVB, as well as implant pylars. He expressed optimism about newer techniques involving mesenchymal stem cells derived from hair follicles. "There's some data out there, but there's more to come in the future," he noted, emphasizing the need for ongoing research to refine and optimize these treatment strategies.

Overall, Issa underscored the necessity of a patient-centered, evidence-based approach to hair loss treatment. By integrating various therapeutic options, clinicians can better tailor interventions to meet individual patient needs while advancing the field of dermatology through continued research.

 staff are onsite at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel for South Beach Symposium 2025. Subscribe to our 

 for the latest in expert insights, exclusive interviews, and late-breaking data.

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Naiem Issa, MD, PhD, FAAD, emphasizes a holistic, patient-centered approach to hair loss treatment, integrating medical and interventional therapies. He advocates for personalized treatment plans that consider individual patient needs and preferences, utilizing options like PRP therapy, stem cell therapy, and hair transplants. Issa highlights the challenges of treating scarring alopecia, focusing on reducing inflammation and promoting hair regeneration. Emerging treatments, including laser therapies and mesenchymal stem cells, show promise. Ongoing research is crucial for optimizing these strategies and advancing dermatological care.

Naiem Issa, MD, PhD, FAAD, Discusses Holistic Hair Loss Treatments at SBS 2025

 recently announced its pharmaceutical, small molecule topical ET-02 will be advancing to a phase 2 study for androgenic alopecia after its successful first-in-man clinical trial. The 5% dosage showed a 6-fold increase in non-vellus hair count after just 5 weeks.

CEO and President of Eirion, Jon Edelson, MD, 

 and discussed how the treatment showed significant promise in reactivating hair follicle stem cells and stimulating normal, non-vellus hair growth as they transition to extended phase 2 applications.

“As good as we saw results in 1 month, we think we'll see even more remarkable results over the 6 months of treatment,” Edelson said in an interview with Dermatology Times.

What’s Next for ET-02? CEO of Eirion, Jon Edelson, MD, Shares Phase 2 Plans 

 I'm Jon Edelson. I'm the chairman, CEO, and President of Eirion Therapeutics and its founder.

 What specific proof of mechanism was demonstrated in phase 1? How do these findings support the progression to phase 2?

As we looked at the target and the mechanism of action, we actually did extensive preclinical studies that demonstrated we were able to address the issue in the stem cell biology, and we were able to take inactivated hair follicle stem cells and reactivate them to normal function. We further demonstrated this in a study we did with human scalp graphs that were implanted in mice that could accept these graphs. Once they were implanted, we could actually treat the mice, and hence the scalp graphs, to see what would happen. And we had a control arm in the study, and we studied it topically, and what we saw was that there was a remarkable amount of hair growth in the group that got the 5% ET-02 versus the control group. But more than just hair growth, when we looked at the type of hair being grown, it was, again, the normal non-vellus type that was important to people who have hair loss. And we also saw that when we looked at this histologically, at a molecular level, all the abnormalities that are present in androgenic alopecia and were observed in the control group had actually been corrected. And so, all of the hair that was being grown was the normal sort of hair that you want to see. And we also saw that at a molecular level, markers for things like cellular growth, Ki-67 to be technical,were actually elevated, as you would like them to be, in normally growing hair, but depressed in the control group, which you actually see in androgenic alopecia. So we believe there's actually quite a bit of data that suggests we've engaged the target and are getting the response. The phase 1 study was really all about trying to confirm what we already saw in the human scalp tissue from the people in that graph study. And so, these people who donated their graphs are the exact same people, or type of people, you'd have in our human first-in-man study. And so we wanted to just see; could we demonstrate this sort of hair growth and good hair growth, non-vellus hair growth that we saw there? And I'm very pleased to say that in what is, I think, a very brief study in the field of androgenic alopecia, we were able to demonstrate that. Typical studies for androgenic alopecia last for 4 months, many usually up to 6 months. And so, for us to see this type of response in just 1 month of treatment was extraordinary. And now we're, of course, very excited to take this to the next level, to a phase 2 study where we will actually study this for 6 months. And again, based on the pre-clinical studies where we treated for 4 months, we saw continued growth over the entire 4 months, and in fact, it was on a trajectory to continue to grow at the end of this study. So we believe, as good as we saw results in 1 month, we think we'll see even more remarkable results over the 6 months of treatment.

What might be some anticipated challenges or limitations in phase 2 evaluations? How do you plan to address or overcome these?

 I'm very happy to say that based on the first-in-man study, we don't really see challenges in the phase 2. I mean, the 2 things one thinks about are signals for safety and signals for efficacy. The signals we saw in this study are very strong and so, we expect and hope that they'll be validated in the phase 2 study. I would say the things that are on our mind, less than challenges per se, are strategic decisions about how to study this promising opportunity further. One of the things that we certainly want to do is look at the potential efficacy of this in women. We had only men in this study, and we believe, based on the mechanism of action, that this could be very effective in women. But of course, we need to demonstrate that. So one of the strategic questions is, do we include women in this next study, or do we have a separate study dedicated to their treatment? The other thing that's on our mind strategically is thinking about the potential treatment of hair graying. And while this study was focused on hair loss and androgenic alopecia, we believe that there's a very similar mechanism of aging involved in why people develop gray hair. Instead of the hair follicle stem cell, we believe it's the melanocyte stem cell that's involved. That's the one that creates color in the hair, and we believe that there's the potential to correct the stem cell biology for that using the drug. So we hope in the future to actually have a separate study looking at the safety and efficacy of treating graying hair, and again, based on the mechanism of action, we think there's the potential. And of course, we look forward to our future studies and hopefully some exciting further clinical news for dermatologists everywhere.

[Transcript has been edited for clarity.]

Eirion Therapeutics' ET-02, a small molecule topical treatment, is advancing to phase 2 trials for androgenic alopecia after a successful phase 1 study. The treatment demonstrated a 6-fold increase in non-vellus hair count within five weeks, reactivating hair follicle stem cells. The phase 2 study will extend to six months, with potential exploration of efficacy in women and hair graying treatment. The company anticipates no major challenges in phase 2, focusing instead on strategic decisions regarding study design and potential new applications.

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