A new cream, called ruxolitinib, effectively repigments the skin of people affected by vitiligo.
A clinical trial has just demonstrated the effectiveness of a cream (ruxolitinib) to treat vitiligo, an autoimmune disease that depigments the skin. “Unfortunately, vitiligo is often stigmatized, which can have significant psychosocial consequences for patients,” says Dr. David Rosmarin, dermatologist at Tufts Medical Center and director of the study. “Current treatments like phototherapythe corticosteroids and the calcineurin inhibitors have limited effectiveness”, and are heavy to bear, he adds.
Facial vitiligo halved
For two years, his team carried out the largest randomized study ever conducted on vitiligo. 157 Americans affected by the disease made up the cohort. One party applied ruxolitinib daily to the skin, while the other was given only a placebo cream. Conclusion: about half of the patients who used ruxolitinib saw their facial vitiligo decrease by half (50%), compared to 3% for the placebo group. Side effects from ruxolitinib were mild, including redness, irritation, and some acne.
“Ruxolitinib has the potential to change the way vitiligo is treated. This treatment effectively repigments the skin, and has very few side effects,” says Dr. Rosmarin. “We believe an even better response to treatment would be possible with continued use of ruxolitinib over a long period of time, combined with phototherapy and sun exposure. We hope this treatment will be a game-changer for patients. millions of people affected by vitiligo worldwide,” he concludes.
A disease that progresses in flare-ups
Around 50 million people (1% of the population) are affected by vitiligo worldwide, including actor Jon Hamm, model Winnie Harlow and comedian Steve Martin. The disease affects all ethnic groups equally, but is most evident in those with darker skin.
This autoimmune disease occurs when the cells carrying the pigments die or are unable to function normally. It develops in flare-ups, under the influence of various factors such as stress, anxiety, psychological shock or friction, and sometimes appears on contact with chemicals.
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