Sulfasalazine — an anti-inflammatory drug that is used to treat various autoimmune conditions, including psoriasis — has been in the news following reports that treating people who have bald patches with sulfasalazine can lead to hair re-growth. Research from the University of Michigan, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, shows that sulfasalazine can help to stimulate hair growth in some people who have alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata affects approximately 2% of the population, and it can result in the development of bald patches or the complete loss of hair. In this study, “cosmetically acceptable regrowth” was observed in 23% of patients who were tested. The authors state that, “sulfasalazine may be considered for systemic treatment of severe alopecia areata”.

John J. Voohees from the University of Michigan told Reuters Health that, “When it works, it works great”, but that, “in at least one half of people it doesn't work at all”. Voohees went on to explain that alopecia occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles, which causes inflammation and prevents hair growth. Sulfasalazine might help to treat alopecia by inhibiting inflammation (Reuters Health).