Patients with vitiligo, a skin condition that causes white patches to develop on the body, may soon have access to a cream that can make the condition disappear within months. UK health regulators have approved the first effective treatment for vitiligo, a disease caused by a lack of melanin in the skin. This lack of melanin is often the result of the immune system improperly attacking melanin-producing cells. The condition, which affects Victoria’s Secret lingerie model Winnie Harlow, was previously thought to be untreatable. However, a drug normally used to treat cancer, ruxolitinib, has been found to reverse the effects of vitiligo.
Ruxolitinib is applied as a twice-daily cream and has been shown in studies to restore natural pigment to the skin in just six months. Although it is currently only available in the US, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has deemed it safe and effective, allowing it to be offered to vitiligo patients aged 12 and over. This opens up the possibility of the NHS offering the treatment if it is approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in January. Vitiligo Support UK and other campaigners have called on NICE to fund ruxolitinib, as it is currently too expensive for many patients to afford.
Vitiligo typically develops at a young age and can affect individuals of any skin tone. White spots appear on the body, which can range from small patches to covering large areas or even the entire body. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but it is more likely to occur in individuals with a family history of the condition or other autoimmune problems. Patients often resort to using makeup to conceal their patches, and the condition can have a significant impact on their mental health.
Until now, steroid creams have been the main treatment option for vitiligo, but they are often ineffective. Ruxolitinib, originally designed to treat bone marrow cancer, has been found to suppress the immune system and halt the loss of skin color caused by vitiligo. It has shown promising results in patients like Alicia Roufs, who saw color return to her face within a month of using the cream.
However, ruxolitinib is not a cure for vitiligo, and patients must continue using the cream to maintain their pigmented skin. Additionally, using the cream on the entire body would be impractical and expensive. Nonetheless, patients like Alicia believe that the treatment should be made available to all vitiligo patients who want to reverse the condition on visible parts of their body. They consider the drug to be a game-changer and hope that it will be made accessible to patients in the UK through the NHS.
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