Emerging role of topical Janus Kinase inhibitors in dermatological disorders.

JAK refers to a family of tyrosine kinases that are involved in production of pro-inflammatory mediators in response to various extracellular signals. JAK/STAT pathway is an appealing target in many inflammatory illnesses since this pathway modulates immune cell activation and T-cell-mediated inflammation in response to several cytokines. The practical considerations of prescription topical and oral JAK inhibitors (JAKi) in atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and psoriasis have been covered in prior publications. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved topical JAKi ruxolitinib for atopic dermatitis (AD) and non-segmental vitiligo. None of the remaining first or second generation topical JAKi have been approved for topical application in any dermatological indications so far. For this review, the PubMed database was searched using "topical" and "JAK inhibitor" or "janus kinase inhibitor" or the names of individual drug molecules as keyword in title with no date limits. The description of topical JAKi usage in dermatology from the literature was evaluated in each abstract. The current review is concentrated on emphasizing the rising use of topical JAKi in both approved and off-label dermatological applications for both old and novel conditions.