Vitiligo - Part 2 - Classification, Histopathology and Treatment
August 2014
in “
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia
”
TLDR New vitiligo treatments focus on controlling immune damage and restoring skin color.
The document "Vitiligo - Part 2 - classification, histopathology and treatment" from September 2014 discussed the classification of vitiligo into segmental and non-segmental types, with non-segmental being more common. Histopathologically, vitiligo was characterized by the absence of melanocytes in affected areas. Treatment options included topical corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, phototherapy (notably narrowband UVB, which showed higher repigmentation rates compared to PUVA), and surgical methods like melanocyte transplantation, punch grafting, and suction blister epidermal grafting. The effectiveness of treatments varied, with early intervention generally leading to better outcomes. The document emphasized the need for individualized treatment plans based on the type and extent of vitiligo and highlighted recent discoveries in vitiligo's pathophysiology, such as adhesion deficits, increased oxidative stress, and T lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity, while calling for further genetic and molecular research.