The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ritlecitinib, a treatment for treatment of severe alopecia areata. The drug produced by Pfizer would be able to stop the enzymes that cause inflammation and hair loss, thus promoting their regrowth. The drug will be marketed under the brand name it’s a sneeze, oral treatment is one capsule per day, also approved by young patients (12+). It was found that patients who took one tablet per day of Ritlecitinib achieved hair coverage equal to or greater than 80%. There is no shortage of side effects and include headache, acne and hives.
What you need to know
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease and strikes at any age. It generally affects the scalp but can also affect the face or other areas of the body. However, the exact cause is not fully understood. Stress can certainly be a factor, as can viral infections and hormonal imbalances. It is important to keep alopecia areata under control to “to monitor” any changes. It is absolutely advisable to consult a specialist for this, in some cases emotional and psychological support related to hair loss can also be helpful.