Janus Kinase Inhibitors as A Breakthrough Treatment for Refractory Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp

Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS) is a rare, chronic neutrophilic dermatosis that is often refractory to conventional therapies.

We present a 29-year-old male with treatment-resistant DCS who achieved rapid and sustained remission following off-label use of tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. Previous therapies, including antibiotics, corticosteroids, and isotretinoin, had failed. After 9 weeks of tofacitinib 10 mg daily, the patient showed marked improvement and maintained remission for 6 months without side effects.

This case supports JAK inhibitors as a promising therapeutic strategy in refractory DCS, highlighting their potential role in managing challenging inflammatory dermatoses.

Novel therapeutic breakthrough This is one of the first documented cases demonstrating successful monotherapy with tofacitinib in refractory dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS), achieving rapid and sustained remission where all standard treatments had failed.Translational value for internists Given the overlap between DCS and other autoimmune/inflammatory disorders commonly encountered by internists (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis), this case supports considering Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for complex inflammatory dermatoses beyond current indications.Clinical impact in practice The case highlights the practical, off-label use of JAK inhibitors in dermatology, providing internists and multidisciplinary teams with a viable option for patients suffering from severe, treatment-resistant conditions.