Repigmentation Through Melanocyte Regeneration in Vitiligo

The document discussed the process of repigmentation in vitiligo, highlighting that it is an active process involving the regeneration of melanocytes, primarily from hair follicles and the basal epidermis. Repigmentation typically occurs in hair-bearing areas and presents most commonly in a perifollicular pattern. Various stimuli, such as UV light and certain drugs (e.g., steroids, calcineurin inhibitors), can induce this process. The study noted that repigmentation is unpredictable and often cosmetically insufficient, with no significant differences in response based on sex or skin type. The findings underscored the potential of melanocyte precursors in both hair follicles and epidermis to proliferate, migrate, and differentiate, contributing to repigmentation in vitiligo.