Evidence for the Off-Label Use of Tofacitinib in Alopecia Areata

August 2025 in “ Scientific Electronic library online (Sciences Carlos III Health Institute) ”

A SÁNCHEZ RUIZ, B Oya Álvarez de Morales, CL Muñoz Cid

tofacitinib Janus kinase inhibitor JAK inhibitor alopecia areata autoimmune disease hair loss randomized controlled trials network meta-analysis systematic reviews meta-analyses comparative studies Xeljanz JAK inhibitors AA

TLDR Tofacitinib can help regrow hair in about 50% of people with moderate-severe alopecia areata.

This document reviews the off-label use of tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for treating alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disease causing hair loss. The study includes 2 randomized controlled trials, 1 network meta-analysis, 3 systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and 2 open comparative studies. The findings suggest that JAK inhibitors, particularly tofacitinib, can induce hair regrowth in about 50% of patients with moderate-severe AA. The adverse effects observed align with those typically expected from JAK inhibitors.

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