Vitiligo

What causes vitiligo?

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the body's own pigment-producing cells. The exact trigger isn't fully understood, but genetics play a role, and vitiligo often runs in families. In some people, new patches can develop at sites of skin injury or repeated friction — a phenomenon known as the Koebner response — and stress or significant physical trauma is sometimes reported as a trigger for onset or spread.

‍

What treatments are available for vitiligo?

Treatment aims to slow progression and encourage repigmentation, and is generally tailored to how extensive and active the vitiligo is:

• Topical corticosteroids — often first-line for localised patches
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors — a non-steroid option, particularly useful for sensitive areas such as the face
• Phototherapy — narrowband UVB light treatment, one of the most established options for more widespread vitiligo, usually requiring a course of regular sessions over months
• Topical JAK inhibitors — a newer class of treatment (such as ruxolitinib cream) that has shown good results for repigmentation overseas; it isn't yet approved for general use in Australia, but may be accessible in some cases through special access pathways under a dermatologist's guidance
• Camouflage — specialised makeup or self-tanning products to reduce the visibility of patches
• Surgical options — such as melanocyte transplantation, considered for stable, localised vitiligo that hasn't responded to other treatments
• Depigmentation therapy — lightening the remaining pigmented skin to achieve a more even appearance, considered only for extensive vitiligo where repigmentation hasn't been successful

‍