Alopecia Areata: JAK Inhibitors—PRP and Exosomes

Alopecia Areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly targets its own hair follicles resulting in unpredictable, non-scarring loss of hair, usually in distinct, round patches on the scalp or other hair-bearing areas of the body (Olsen et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 79(3):470–78.e3, 2018). It is estimated to affect approximately 6.8 million people in the U.S. at some point in their lives, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF). While its initial presentation might be limited to patches, it can progress to more extensive forms like Alopecia Totalis (AT) where there is hair loss of the entire head and Alopecia Universalis (AU) which is hair loss of the entire body (Kennedy Crispin et al., JCI Insight 1(15):e89776, 2016). The emotional and psychological implications of these conditions are profound, given the societal emphasis on hair as a symbol of beauty, health, and identity.