A new advance in laser technology now restores normal pigmentation to diseased skin areas in patients with vitiligo. Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition characterized by loss of pigmentation in the skin secondary to dysfunction or death of melanocytes, the cells that give the skin its color. Physicians believe that glitches in the immune system or the nervous system may damage or obliterate the melanocytes.

Vitiligo affects 1-2% of the population. Pigment lossoccurs before the age of 20 in about 50% of vitiligo sufferers. The localized patches of depigmented skin, often occurring around the eyes and mouth, become totally white. The white blotches can be particularly disfiguring cosmetically, especially for people of color. Additionally, the affected skin loses the protective effect of the melanin or pigment, becoming very sensitive and susceptible to damage from ultraviolet rays.

Vitiligo Laser Treatment

The Excimer laser, emitting monochromatic ultraviolet B light, allows vitiligo patients to effectively treat the affected areas with a rapid return to normal pigmentation. The more profound penetration of the UVB light using a fiber optic system stimulates any melanocytes that still exist to ramp up production of melanin pigment.

In a recent clinical trial, patients with vitiligo underwent treatment to affected skin areas with the Excimer laser three times a week. Fifty-seven percent of the treated areas showed limited to full repigmentation in as little as two weeks. Treatments typically consist of a series of laser sessions over approximately six weeks, during which time slow improvement occurs.

Because the Excimer laser can cover up to 20% of the body surface in five minutes, the treatments are relatively quick to perform. They are painless, requiring no anesthetic, and there are very few side effects. Clinical studies have indicated that the Excimer laser treatments are most successful on the face and neck, and least successful on the extremities. Pretreatment of all areas with Tacrolimus, an immune modulating ointment, enhances the results in most cases.