BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a common idiopathic acquired or inherited disease with loss of normal melanin pigments and functioning melanocytes from otherwise healthy looking skin. Presently, there is no universally effective medical or surgical modality for vitiligo therapy. Vitiligo skin grafting involves grafting of patients own pigment (color) bearing skin from a concealed site, such as thighs or buttocks, to the white patches.
OBJECTIVE: This is a clinical series designed to conduct preliminary evaluation on the efficacy and safety of autologous punch grafting followed by topical psoralen plus sun exposure in the treatment of vitiligo among Filipino patients. It is the aim of this study to determine the length of optimal time (number of days-weeks-months) in inducing repigmentation and to document possible skin irritation and other adverse reactions.
METHODS: After obtaining informed consent, eleven (11) patients diagnosed with vitiligo underwent treatment with autologous punch grafting. After 2 weeks, sun exposure with topical psoralen was instituted and continued for a maximum of 3 months.
RESULTS: A 3-month follow-up showed a good repigmentation of the treated areas in 10/11 patients. None of the patients treated showed marked side effects. Koebner's phenomenon was not observed in any of the cases. The optimal time for inducing repigmentation is one to two months.
CONCLUSION: The combination of punch grafting and topical psoralen plus sun exposure may be an effective alternative treatment in localized type of vitiligo.