Cholesterol Lowering Drugs for Treating Alopecia Areata? A New Study says Yes

STATIN DRUGS FOR HAIR LOSS? 

Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune condition. Medications that reduce or modify the effects of the immune system are traditionally used to treat alopecia areata. You may be familiar with treatments such as steroid injections, topical steroids, diphencyprone (DPCP), anthralin, or  immunosuppressive pills such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine and prednisone.  These all affect the immune system in some way or another.

New research now suggests that cholesterol lowering medications may also be helpful. Interestingly, in addition to the ability of these medications to lower cholesterol levels, these drugs also reduce inflammation. The reduction of inflammation is a key step in treating alopecia areata.

What are statins?

The ‘statins’ are a well-known group of medications used to treat high cholesterol.  In fact,  it is estimated that about 3 millions Canadians and 30 millions Americans use statins to control their cholesterol.  Ezetimibe is a second type of cholesterol lowering medication and works by blocking the absorption of cholesterol.

In a new study, 19 patients with advanced alopecia areata were treated with two cholesterol medications – simvastatin and ezetimibe for 24 weeks.  Remarkably, after 24 weeks, 14 of 19 patients (nearly 75% of patients) were found to regrow hair so some extent. The majority of those who continued the drug after then 24 week period maintained their hair and the majority of stopped the drug after then 24 week period lost their hair again.

Comment

This is a tremendously exciting study, opening the doors to even larger studies of the use of these cholesterol lowering drugs in the treatment of alopecia areata. These drugs are well known in the population as cholesterol lowering drugs and so we have many years of experience with these drugs. Although side effects such as muscle pains, muscle damage, diarrhea, irritation of the liver, and a rise in blood sugars can occur with these medications – these are relatively infrequent. 

Study: Lattouf C and colleagues. Treatment of alopecia areata with simvastatin/ezetimibe. J Am Acad Dermatol 2015; 72: 359