This revolutionary pill that could be the end of baldness

Alopecia affects billions of people around the world every year. The psychological impact it generates (especially in women or adolescents due to social pressure) can lead to other problems, such as a lack of self-esteem.

That's why there are so many people eagerly awaiting the announcement of a solution to put a stop to it, and that day might just be here.

The pharmaceutical industry has just approved the launch of a new drug, Ritecitinib, which promises really exciting results in the fight against a specific type of alopecia: areata.

Areata is a type of alopecia that usually begins by causing localized hair loss, mainly on the head, and causing round hairless patches that could lead to complete baldness.

It is an autoimmune disease and can occur on both the scalp and the beard area. Although it can occur at any age, more cases are seen at an early age, making it the most common type of alopecia among children.

Ritecitinib has been tested successfully in this type of alopecia but not in others. An example is androgenetics, for which this medication is not appropriate. However, its discovery represents a breakthrough that will help millions of people.

Ritecitinib was approved by the US drug agency, the FDA, in mid-2023, and recently, the European Commission (EC) has also granted permission for its marketing.

This is very good news, since, according to the American National Institutes of Health, alopecia areata is one of the most frequent reasons for consultation and it is estimated that up to 2% of the population will experience an episode of alopecia areata in their life.

It is true that Ritecitinib is not a miracle product, but as shown by the results of its clinical trials, published in the scientific journal The Lancet, it reversed up to 80% of hair loss in 25% of patients.

This is a great advancement for a significant number of people who until now had no solution to their hair loss problem. And surely, with the new research that is already underway, the number of people who can benefit from this type of medication will increase.

You might be wondering how patients need to take Ritecitinib. Well it is a daily pill (for at least 24 weeks), recommended from the age of 12, which promises results in just a few weeks.

The exact reasons for alopecia areata, which are autoimmune in nature, are not entirely clear and its causes may be related, among others, to stress, genetics or trauma.

It usually causes small patches of hair missing in specific areas. And there are no certainties about its evolution either, since some are reversible and others are not.

What there is no doubt about is that new medications and medical discoveries will help improve the self-esteem and quality of life of all those people for whom hair loss can be a problem that goes beyond looks....