New Vitiligo Therapies and Treatments

Vitiligo may be one of the most common pigmentary disorders and is characterized by a gradual loss of melanocytes. The condition usually results in skin areas without any trace of skin pigments. Traditionally, the therapies available until recently have been thought to be unsatisfactory and incredibly challenging, as the rates of success were incredibly low. However, with recent technological advancements, new therapies and treatment methods seem to increase vitiligo treatment success to almost 95%. The disorder’s debut is usually manifesting before the age of 20, and in many patient’s case, this has a major psychological impact. Vitiligo patients usually experience increased shame and low self-esteem, but also a lowered life-quality index. Below are some of those incredible developments that can help vitiligo patients regain their confidence and eliminate stigma.

Melanocytes transplantation

Maybe one of the most successful therapy methods in vitiligo treatment, melanocyte transplantation is showing increased rates of success. There are four methods, each of those being based on collecting healthy epidermis from other healthy areas of the patient’s body and reattaching those to the affected areas to catch and re-pigmentate those. The methods differ, however. The transfer of a non-cultured melanocyte suspension method consists of removing healthy epidermis and then reattaching it to the affected areas, after those have been treated with dermabrasion. A bandage is afterwards attached to the treated areas and left untouched for several days. The transfer of cultured melanocytes is another reliable method, which consists of the removal of a healthy skin portion, which is afterwards trypsinized and treated in several mechanical steps, incubated and then applied to the vitiligo area. Once again, the patient is bandaged and left untouched for several days, but it allows the treatment of a larger area.

Ultraviolet radiations (UVR)

Phototherapy is an incredible stimulant for melanocyte production, which is one of the reasons for which reputable treatment centers throughout the world rely on it as one of their main therapies provided. An oral photosensitizer psoralen is administered to the patient and then the vitiligo areas are treated with UVA and UVB light. However, the psoralen is a highly toxic substance, reason for which this therapy is only recommended to adults. Plus, the toxicity in the compound and radiation itself make this therapy method unsafe for many.

Targeted phototherapy

This is one of the most recent vitiligo treatment methods and unlike the UVR therapy, it allows targeted treatment of the areas affected, making it safer and less likely to damage the nearby, healthy tissue. Acute and unwanted side-effects are avoided this way and the incidence of radiation and exposure to toxic substances reactions, eliminated almost completely.

While there are numerous therapies, melanocyte transplantation seems to be one of the most successful ones out there, until the present time. Clinical trials are still expected to emerge for other therapies as well, but melanocyte transplantation is the only one proven to have over 95% rates of success. Regardless, each patient should carefully discuss with their medical professional the options available for their own particular case.