1. VITILIGO Pharmacology IV (PHL 425)
Dr. Abdulaziz Saeedan
PhD, Pharmacology

2. 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

3. 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

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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. Thank you