Drug called Xeljanz and hairloss (Yale study)

[Bold Legacy]

As a semibald guy, I scramble online every now and then looking for that light at the end of the tunnel. So I stumbled on this right now - sorry if it's been already posted.

Yale scientists successfully use arthritis drug to regrow completely bald man's hair

Yale scientists have successfully used an arthritis medication to fully regrow the head and body hair of a almost totally hairless 25-year-old man.

Researchers administered the drug tofacitinib citrate to the unnamed patient, who suffered from the autoimmune baldness disease alopecia universalis.
Within eight months, the man had regrown scalp and facial hair he'd not had in seven years.

'The results are exactly what we hoped for,' said Brett A. King, M.D., senior author of the paper, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 'This is a huge step forward in the treatment of patients with this condition.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2663086/Yale-scientists-successfully-use-arthritis-drug-regrow-completely-bald-mans-hair.html

Thoughts?

[nameless]

As a semibald guy, I scramble online every now and then looking for that light at the end of the tunnel. So I stumbled on this right now - sorry if it's been already posted.

Yale scientists successfully use arthritis drug to regrow completely bald man's hair

Yale scientists have successfully used an arthritis medication to fully regrow the head and body hair of a almost totally hairless 25-year-old man.

Researchers administered the drug tofacitinib citrate to the unnamed patient, who suffered from the autoimmune baldness disease alopecia universalis.
Within eight months, the man had regrown scalp and facial hair he'd not had in seven years.

'The results are exactly what we hoped for,' said Brett A. King, M.D., senior author of the paper, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 'This is a huge step forward in the treatment of patients with this condition.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2663086/Yale-scientists-successfully-use-arthritis-drug-regrow-completely-bald-mans-hair.html

Thoughts?

Alopecia universalis is a totally different condition from the condition that we have. We have androgenetic alopeica.

[Scientalk56]

OH MY GOD

The question is what about male pattern baldness ?!?!?!?!?!

[sdsurfin]

Very cool for people with alopecia totalis, if it's reproducible. unfortunately the two diseases are not very related I don't think. They are mediated by different pathways. Wouldn't get your hopes up. It might be helpful in treating the inflammatory aspect of androgenic alopecia, but don't expect it to have the same kind of results!

[Haircure]

This drug was already available in the market for prescription, and it's main action is to reduce immune response which led to the patient regrowing his hair. Like sdsurfin said, this is unlikely to cure male pattern baldness and not to mention the side effects of this drug are much more prominent and more dangerous than any other hair loss drugs we have now.

FYI don't post links from news website sources like the "daily mail", they often post misleading articles where they cherry pick info from the actual studies. The daily mail almost literally posts a "new cure" for baldness every month, with anything ranging from lasers to prp, which we all know are not cures.

[Swooping]

Totally different than androgenetic alopecia. As said this drug totally wrecks your immune system. People have literally died from that drug due to infections, developing cancer etc. Cyclosporin (also a immunosuppressant) works pretty good at regrowing hair in patients with alopecia universalis too.

[hellouser]

Totally different than androgenetic alopecia. As said this drug totally wrecks your immune system. People have literally died from that drug due to infections, developing cancer etc. Cyclosporin (also a immunosuppressant) works pretty good at regrowing hair in patients with alopecia universalis too.

How would it be administered? Orally or as a topical? It's molecular weight is less than finasteride, at roughly 300 dalton which makes it suitable as a topical.

[huawei]

Totally different than androgenetic alopecia. As said this drug totally wrecks your immune system. People have literally died from that drug due to infections, developing cancer etc. Cyclosporin (also a immunosuppressant) works pretty good at regrowing hair in patients with alopecia universalis too.

Yeah, 1000x this. Though death is something very rare generally additional health management is needed. eg going to the doctor if you get a cough rather than just letting it subside.

But otherwise, this is great news for those who suffer alopecia universalis, however the only related thing between the two conditions would be really be the inflammation around the follicle but even then completely different pathways.

I honestly hope no one is dumb enough to try this on themselves...

[hellouser]

I honestly hope no one is dumb enough to try this on themselves...

I hope someone does, lol.

[downandout]

apparently the assistant professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine submitted a clinical trial proposal for a cream form of Xeljanz as a treatment for alopecia areata.

http://www.rttnews.com/2339547/the-bald-truth-about-arthritis-drug.aspx?type=sat

[clarence]

But otherwise, this is great news for those who suffer alopecia universalis

And female hair loss? Anyone?

[Haircure]

And female hair loss? Anyone?

Nope, again the OP should have included all the details from the articles instead of picking certain parts. This is not a cure for male pattern baldness or female hair loss, this is a treatment for those with an autoimmune disease such as alopecia areata or alopecia totalis.

[walrus]

This is not a cure for male pattern baldness or female hair loss, this is a treatment for those with an autoimmune disease such as alopecia areata or alopecia totalis.

Don't forget that MPB also has links with the immune system (PDG2 and mast cells).

[hellouser]

We won't know if it works for MPB unless someone tries it. Nobody still knows for sure how MPB occurs in detail. Might as well give it a shot.

[walrus]

We won't know if it works for MPB unless someone tries it. Nobody still knows for sure how MPB occurs in detail. Might as well give it a shot.

Given the possible side effects with this drug, it is not the kind of substance people should be trying to obtain and apply themselves off-label. Better to wait for a properly designed and regulated study---if you value your health.