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Diseases » Vitiligo » Research

Cure Research for Vitiligo

Treatments for Vitiligo

Treatments to consider for Vitiligo may include:

Medications
- Topical steroid therapy
- Psoralens
- UV light
- Topical psoralen photochemotherapy - topical psoralen and UVA therapy (topical PUVA)
more treatments...»

Medical Research Breakthroughs and Vitiligo

Pepper adds colour to skin: Piperine, an alkaloid which is present in pepper has been found useful in patients with Vitiligo. Vitiligo is characterised by depigmentation of the skin, seen as pale patches on the skin. These visible patches are a common cause of distress emotionally and psychologically. It is non-contagious disease. These patients earlier required to be exposed to UV radiation for a longer duration predisposing to skin cancer. According to researchers at Oregon Health & Science University(OHSU), they found that piperine and two of its analogs – tetrahydropiperine (THP) and a cyclohexyl derivative (RCHP) derived from pepper was found to stimulate proliferation of melanocytes in cell cultures. Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin which adds pigment to skin giving the complexion colour. When combined with UV radiation the skin grew darker and the patches were no longer visible in daylight. Moreover, the skin pre-treated with piperine required fewer exposures to the sun lowering the risk of cancer.

Cure Research discussion for Vitiligo:

For more than a decade, research on how melanocytes play a role in vitiligo has greatly increased. This includes research on autologous melanocyte transplants. At the University of Colorado, NIAMS supports a large collaborative project involving families with vitiligo in the United States and the United Kingdom. To date, over 2,400 patients are involved. It is hoped that genetic analysis of these families will uncover the location--and possibly the specific gene or genes--conferring susceptibility to the disease. Doctors and researchers continue to look for the causes of and new treatments for vitiligo. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers about Vitiligo: NIAMS)