VITILIGO Pharmacology IV (PHL 425) Dr. Abdulaziz Saeedan PhD, Pharmacology Email: a.binsaeedan@psau.edu.sa

What is vitiligo? Vitiligo is a skin pigmentation disorder characterized by white patches surrounded by heavily pigmented borders. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or unable to function Autoimmune disorder Genetic link / blood relatives (not always) Affects 1-2% of population irrespective of sex and race Difficult to cure Harmful effects

Symptoms White patches on the skin which may vary in size and shape (no fixed pattern) These patches may appear on different parts of the body The hair present on the affected areas some time turn white These patches may start progression or re-pigment on their own

Treatment Long and difficult process, rarely 100% effective on individual Always involves sunlight or ultraviolet light Physical and chemical methods Cosmetics Depigmentation Psychological counseling

Chemical Treatment Topical steroid therapy: Steroid creams may be helpful in repigmenting (returning the color to) white patches, particularly if they are applied in the initial stages of the disease. Psoralens photochemotherapy (PUVA): this is probably the most effective treatment for vitiligo (re-pigmentation of the white patches) Depigmentation: Fading the rest of the skin on the body to match the areas that are already white. Monobenzone twice a day until pigmented areas match the already-depigmented areas Phenylalanine: This essential amino acid is the precursor for the skin pigment melanin. Psoralen: a compound present in certain plants which is used in perfumery and (in combination with ultraviolet light) to treat psoriasis and other skin disorders.

Physical Treatment Tattooing (micro-pigmentation): Implanting pigment into the skin with a special surgical instrument Autologous skin grafts: skin is removed from one area of the body and attached to another area Autologous melanocyte transplantation: a sample of the normal pigmented skin is taken and placed it in a laboratory dish containing a special cell-culture solution to grow melanocytes. When the melanocytes in the culture solution have multiplied, they are transplanted on depigmented skin patches Sunscreen and cosmotics

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