Follicular Transplantation, Microneedling, and Adjuvant Narrow-Band Ultraviolet-B Irradiation as Cost-Effective Regimens for Palmar-Plantar Vitiligo: A Pilot Study

In a pilot study conducted to address the challenging treatment of palmar-plantar vitiligo, researchers evaluated the efficacy of combining hair transplantation with either CO2 laser or microneedling, followed by narrow-band ultraviolet-B (nbUVB) irradiation. Both combinations—hair transplantation with CO2 laser and nbUVB, as well as hair transplantation with microneedling and nbUVB—showed promise in inducing repigmentation in the difficult-to-treat areas of palmar-plantar vitiligo. However, the study suggested that a larger trial would be necessary to conclusively determine the difference in efficacy between the two treatment regimens. The study highlighted that microneedling, in particular, is cost-effective and requires minimal training, making it a viable option for standard dermatological practice.