Transplantation of Melanocyte Stem Cells in Vitiliginous Skin

The study discussed the transplantation of melanocyte stem cells as a treatment for vitiligo, a condition characterized by the loss of functioning epidermal melanocytes. Traditional methods struggled with repigmentation in areas with poor melanocyte reservoirs. The research highlighted that reactivating melanocyte precursors from the outer root sheath of hair follicles, where melanocyte stem cells are located, showed promise. Clinical experiments demonstrated that both follicular unit transplantation and single cell suspension from hair follicles could be effective. Specifically, a single cell suspension treatment could address 50 cm² of vitiliginous skin using 15 autologous hair follicular units. These procedures were noted to be straightforward and feasible for trained dermatologists.