Treatment of Refractory Vitiligo With a Vellus Hair Punch Graft

In the 2018 study, a novel surgical technique called the vellus hair punch graft was used to treat three patients with stable vitiligo that was unresponsive to medical treatments. The technique involved transplanting vellus hair grafts from the abdominal area to the vitiligo patches to prevent unwanted terminal hair growth post-treatment. The patients, aged 44, 43, and 57, had vitiligo on the face and had previously undergone various treatments including systemic steroids, topical tacrolimus, and phototherapy for periods ranging from 1 to 1.5 years. After the vellus hair punch graft procedure, all patients showed marked repigmentation within a month to 8 months, with no significant complications. The study concluded that the vellus hair punch graft could be an effective treatment option for refractory and stable vitiligo on the face or glabrous areas without resulting in unwanted hair growth. Further studies were suggested to compare the outcomes of vellus hair grafts with nonfollicular epidermis punch grafts on vitiligo lesions.