Efficacy and safety of combined fractional ablative CO2 laser and 5 fluorouracil in the treatment of acral vitiligo: An open, uncontrolled study

The Effect of Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser on Melanogenesis in Human Melanocytes and Vitiligo Mouse Models

Introduction

Vitiligo is an acquired skin pigmentation disorder, the cause of which is poorly understood. Researchers in this field are dedicated to exploring novel treatments for achieving re-pigmentation.

Methods

Mice were randomly selected and divided into control, model, and model+laser groups. Evaluate the impact of different levels of carbon dioxide laser irradiation on tyrosinase activity, melanocyte viability, and melanin content.

Results

In this study, it was found that the cell viability and melanin content were significantly enhanced in human melanocytes after treatment with different energy densities of fractional carbon dioxide laser. In addition, laser-treated vitiligo mouse models showed mild pathological changes.

Discussion

Therefore, we believe that fractional carbon dioxide laser may be a potential adjunctive modality for treating vitiligo.

Management of the refractory vitiligo patient: current therapeutic strategies and future options

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that leads to disfiguring depigmented lesions of skin and mucosa. Although effective treatments are available for vitiligo, there are still some patients with poor responses to conventional treatment. Refractory vitiligo lesions are mostly located on exposed sites such as acral sites and lips, leading to significant life stress. Understanding the causes of refractory vitiligo and developing targeted treatments are essential to enhance vitiligo outcomes. In this review, we summarized recent treatment approaches and some potential methods for refractory vitiligo. Janus kinase inhibitors have shown efficacy in refractory vitiligo. A variety of surgical interventions and fractional carbon dioxide laser have been widely applied to combination therapies. Furthermore, melanocyte regeneration and activation therapies are potentially effective strategies. Patients with refractory vitiligo should be referred to psychological monitoring and interventions to reduce the potential pathogenic effects of chronic stress. Finally, methods for depigmentation and camouflage may be beneficial in achieving uniform skin color and improved quality of life. Our ultimate focus is to provide alternative options for refractory vitiligo and to bring inspiration to future research.