Successful Treatment of Localized Scleroderma in Intertriginous Areas with Tofacitinib: A Case Report

Localized scleroderma (LS) is a chronic skin disorder marked by excessive collagen deposition. We report a 61-year-old woman with LS predominantly affecting intertriginous areas, refractory to conventional therapies, who was treated with the Janus kinase 1/3 (JAK1/3) inhibitor tofacitinib at 5 mg twice daily, later reduced to 5 mg once daily for maintenance. Within two months, she experienced rapid relief of pruritus and marked softening of skin induration, with Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT) scores improving from 5 to 1 on the LoSAI and from 3 to 2 on the LoSDI. No adverse effects were observed, and the patient reported high satisfaction. This case suggests that tofacitinib may represent a potential therapeutic option for patients with refractory LS, warranting further studies to clarify its long-term efficacy and safety.