Emerging Therapeutic Options for Alopecia Areata in Adolescents, With Brittany Craiglow, MD

During the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 2025 Congress in Paris, a session titled ‘The Current and Emerging Therapeutic Landscape for Treating AA in Adolescents’ was presented by Brittany G. Craiglow, MD, assistant professor, adjunct dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.¹

Craiglow spoke with the HCPLive editorial team on-site at EADV regarding takeaways from her session on alopecia areata treatments for adolescents. She was first asked how one should approach conversations with colleagues who may be hesitant to adopt JAK inhibitors or other systemic options for younger patients.

“While many dermatologists are very excited about the possibilities that Jak inhibitors offer, we still see some hesitancy, I think, largely because of concern about risk,” Craiglow explained. “...I don't like to dismiss the risks of JAK inhibitors completely, but in patients with inflammatory skin disease, they really tend to be quite safe. I think this sort of goes back to a conversation with your patient and their family.”

Craiglow highlighted that, among the majority of younger patients, alopecia areata has the potential to alter their life trajectories. So when families are presented with an option to provide the possibility of normalcy, really, they may be willing to accept some level of risk.

She was also asked about ways primary care and community dermatologists can identify patients who may need referral to specialty centers for advanced care.

“I think for any patients who are not responding to sort of first-line treatments, or have moderate to severe disease at the outset, those are patients who you know one should consider referring, especially if you're not comfortable using systemic therapies,” Craiglow said. “Because the majority of patients, especially with alopecia areata, if they have more moderate disease, it's not very likely that they're going to improve with topical interlesional triamcinolone, it's really difficult in young people. I think if you're not comfortable using a JAK inhibitor or other systemic therapy, those are patients who really should be referred on so that they can get appropriate care.”

Craiglow has reported personal fees from AbbVie, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Incyte, Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Sanofi-Genzyme.

References

1. Session: The Current and Emerging Therapeutic Landscape for Treating AA in Adolescents. Presented at the 2025 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress, Sept 17-20, 2025.