Response to Narrow-Band UVB – Vitiligo-Melasma versus Vitiligo

Abstract

Patients having both vitiligo and melasma have a significantly better prognosis for repigmentation on the face and limbs with narrow-band UVB compared with patients with vitiligo alone; the vitiligo-melasma patients achieve repigmentation much earlier and also attain a greater level of repigmentation. Unexpectedly, for truncal lesions, patients with vitiligo alone responded better than those with both conditions. Although the vitiligo-melasma group with truncal lesions started repigmenting earlier, the final pigmentation was more extensive in the vitiligo group.

Feasibility of oral tranexamic acid for vitiligo patients with melasma

“…Our results show that vitiligo patients with melasma who received oral TA did not experience worsening vitiligo during the treatment period. The first sign of facial repigmentation was recorded at the first month of phototherapy treatment (mean ± SD 0.98 ± 0.43 months), identical to the previous report 16 . At the end of our study, about 81.25% of the patients achieved a moderate to excellent degree of improvement (25%–100% improvement) in the vitiligo lesions via physician global assessments.…”

“…Phototherapy is an essential treatment for vitiligo. Signs of facial repigmentation started to develop after 1 month of narrowband UVB phototherapy 16 . Our results show that vitiligo patients with melasma who received oral TA did not experience worsening vitiligo during the treatment period.…”

“…The first sign of facial repigmentation was recorded at the first month of phototherapy treatment (mean ± SD 0.98 ± 0.43 months), identical to the previous report. 16 At the end of our study, about 81.25% of the patients achieved a moderate to excellent degree of improvement (25%-100% improvement) in the vitiligo lesions via physician global assessments. Further study is needed to determine if TA has a direct role in vitiligo.…”

“…A previous studies have shown that the presence of melasma in vitiligo patients is a good prognostic sign for repigmentation. 16,18,19 It would be unfortunate if vitiligo patients had an interruption in their phototherapy treatment due to worsening of melasma. Vitiligo and melasma can result in lower self-esteem and deterioration of life quality.…”

Excimer light photototherapy of segmental and non‐segmental vitiligo: experience in Taiwan

“…The presence of facial melasma is an important parameter to predict the response of vitiligo treatment. In a study of narrowband UVB treatment in India, vitiligo patients with melasma achieved repigmentation earlier and with better response than patients without melasma (37). In our study, patient with melasma also had better response to excimer light in both univariate and multivariate analysis.…”