Interested in new trials?
Get alerts for new trials in your area by subscribing now
What is alopecia areata?
In alopecia areata the immune system mistakes hair follicles for a threat and attacks them. Hair usually falls out suddenly in round or oval patches on the scalp, but eyebrows, eyelashes, and the beard can be affected too. The bare skin looks normal, with no rash or scarring, and doctors often see short "exclamation point" hairs at the edge of a patch. It is not contagious. It can start at any age, but most people get it in their teens, twenties, or thirties, and when it starts before age 10 it tends to be more widespread. Having a close relative with it raises the risk, although many people have no family history at all. It also shows up more often in people with other autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis, thyroid disease, and vitiligo. About 700,000 people in the US have it right now.
What makes research here unusual is how quickly it has moved. The FDA approved baricitinib (Olumiant) for severe alopecia areata in adults in June 2022, ritlecitinib (Litfulo) in June 2023 as the first option for teenagers 12 and older, and deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi) for adults in July 2024. In the baricitinib trials, about a third of people on the higher dose regrew at least 80 percent of their scalp hair in 36 weeks, compared with about 1 in 20 on placebo. These medicines carry the FDA's boxed warning for serious infections, cancer, and blood clots, so trials also look for safer options, options for younger children, and treatments for people they do not help. Our guide to new alopecia treatments covers the older options too.
Types of alopecia areata clinical trials
Next generation JAK pills. New JAK inhibitors, and approved ones tested in new groups. Right now, ritlecitinib is studied in people 12 and older, and upadacitinib in children 6 to 17.
Other immune medicines. Drugs that target different parts of the immune system, including dupilumab in children and an interleukin 2 based medicine meant to calm the immune attack on follicles.
Treatments you put on the skin. Solutions and creams applied to the scalp, tested as an alternative to pills.
Gut microbiome studies. Research on whether changing gut bacteria can affect the immune system and hair regrowth.
Long term registries. Observational studies that follow people on approved treatments for years to learn about safety and how long results last.
Who can participate in alopecia areata clinical trials?
Most medicine trials enroll people with severe alopecia areata, which usually means at least half of the scalp hair is missing. Some trials are only for adults, others only for children or teenagers, and a few accept milder, patchy disease. Many studies ask what treatments you have tried, especially JAK inhibitors, and some ask you to stop other hair treatments for a set time before you join. This break is called a washout period. People with other autoimmune conditions can often still take part, but it depends on the study. Eligibility always varies by study.
Considering volunteering in a clinical trial? Explore our comprehensive guide to learn more about why people choose to volunteer and the impact you can make in advancing medical research. Discover the process of volunteering, what to consider before applying and the potential benefits and risks involved.
How alopecia areata is measured: the SALT score
Doctors and trials use the Severity of Alopecia Tool, or SALT, which is simply the percentage of scalp hair that is missing, from 0 to 100. A score of 50 or more is usually called severe, and most pill trials enroll people in that range. Success in a trial is often a SALT score of 20 or less, which means at least 80 percent of the scalp is covered with hair again.
You may also hear the names of the patterns. Patchy alopecia areata means one or more round patches and is the most common. Alopecia totalis means all scalp hair is lost, which happens in about 5 percent of people with the condition. Alopecia universalis means hair is lost on the whole body, in about 1 percent. Knowing your rough SALT score helps you see at a glance which studies fit.
Do alopecia areata trial participants get paid?
Some studies offer compensation for time and travel, and study related care is typically provided at no cost to participants. Compensation varies by trial and is always described during the informed consent process before you agree to anything.
Curious whether clinical trials pay participants? Here's how compensation actually works.
How to enroll in an alopecia areata clinical trial
Find your trial. Use the filters. Titles say whether a study is for adults, teenagers, or children, and often whether it wants "severe" alopecia areata.
Choose a location. Enter your city or state. Pill trials usually mean visits every few weeks, often with scalp photos, so distance matters.
Read the study details. Click "Learn More" for the age range, how much hair loss is required, and which past treatments are allowed.
Complete the health profile. Click "Get started" to begin the 5-step application. Have three things ready: roughly how much of your scalp is affected and for how long, the treatments you have tried and when you stopped them, and any other autoimmune conditions and the medicines you take for them.
Submit the application. A clinical trial coordinator reviews it and contacts you. Nothing is decided until you have gone through informed consent, and participation is voluntary at every step.