![]() Studies have shown in most cases, people regrow some of their hair, but the gains are typically lost if patients discontinue treatment, as many do because the shots directly into bald spots are painful. The traditional treatment has been monthly steroid injections. Prior to Litfulo and Olumiant, no drug was specifically approved by the FDA for alopecia areata. “Hopefully, (this drug) will help families and parents have improved quality of life, too.” Other treatments for alopecia patients ![]() “It goes further than the patients themselves … Some parents feel guilty because they feel it’s their fault and it’s not,” she said. But with kids and teens, the social and emotional impacts of alopecia can also affect caretakers and other family members. View Gallery: Jada Pinkett Smith, other celebrities with alopecia in photosĪlopecia areata behaves similarly in both adults and pediatric patients, Lo Sicco said. children is affected by the skin condition, studies show. It's estimated about 1 in every 1,000 U.S. It’s distinguished by circular patches of hair loss and can result in a complete loss of scalp hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, facial hair and body hair.Įxperts say alopecia areata is more common than people may think. It’s unclear if Pinkett Smith has alopecia areata, which is a specific skin disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack hair follicles. The condition gained more awareness after Jada Pinkett Smith spoke about it on an episode of her Facebook show “Red Table Talk” last year, detailing her experience with hair loss. What is alopecia areata?Īlopecia is a medical term to describe general hair loss. It falls in line with other dermatologic treatments like Olumiant, which is more than $2,600 for a month's supply of 2-milligram pills. A full year's supply has a list price of $49,000, according to Pfizer. Lack of coverage would certainly put the treatment out of reach for many Americans. ![]() It's important for alopecia-specific therapies to receive official approval because they're more likely to be covered by insurance companies, Lo Sicco said.įDA approval “will help substantiate alopecia areata as more than just something that’s cosmetic, which has been considered that for years by insurers who may not want to cover the therapies,” she said. The only other medication for alopecia on the market is Olumiant, which was originally approved for rheumatoid arthritis but received approval for alopecia in adults June 2022. The most common side effects reported included headache, diarrhea, acne, rash and urticaria, a skin rash defined by itchy, red or skin-colored welts. The FDA approved the once-daily pill called Litfulo, created by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, for people 12 and up to treat severe alopecia areata, or at least 50% hair loss.Ībout 23% of patients regained 80% or more of hair coverage on their scalp after six months of treatment compared to only 1.6% of participants in the placebo group, according to trial results published by The Lancet in April. “It’s important for a child – especially as they’re developing – to have their sense of self and regain their sense of confidence.” New treatment for teens with alopecia Lo Sicco, associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health, who is also Lee’s doctor. But that’s about to change as the Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the first and only medication on the market for the skin disease available to Americans under 18. There have never been any real treatment options for children and teens with alopecia areata. “Having alopecia as a child is a unique experience when you’re growing up and still trying to figure out who you are and establishing different parts of your identity,” said the New York City native. It’s one of the many memories around her alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that started causing her hair to fall out at age 5. Lee, now 17, remembers the incident as vividly as if it were yesterday. She grabbed at her head and turned around to see her classmate hanging the hairpiece in his hands. Her dark wig slipped off in an instant, revealing her hairless scalp to the shining sun, the cool breeze, and her entire third-grade class during recess. Alison Lee felt a slight tug at the back of her head.
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