News - 11 Nov `23New Research: Half of New Vitiligo Cases Go Untreated

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A new study highlighted in Springer Link reveals that within the first year of being diagnosed with vitiligo, a skin condition marked by loss of pigment, a surprisingly large number of patients are not receiving any treatment. Additionally, those who do start treatment often stick with their initial choice without exploring other options.

Vitiligo is notoriously hard to treat, with ruxolitinib being the only officially approved medication for bringing back skin color. Other treatments, such as creams, light therapies, and skin grafts, either don't work as well or come with undesirable side effects, especially with long-term use.

This study, conducted from 2016 to 2021, delved into the treatment patterns of 19,335 patients over the age of 12 who were newly diagnosed with vitiligo. The researchers tracked the medications used, the type of treatments chosen, how long they were used, and how often patients switched treatments.

What they found was striking: nearly half of these patients did not get any treatment during their first year after diagnosis. For those who did begin treatment, the majority chose strong topical creams, oral steroids, or topical calcineurin inhibitors, with very few switching to different treatments. Interestingly, patients with more severe vitiligo were more likely to receive treatment.

The study also revealed varied times in starting different medications, ranging from about 52 days to 179 days, depending on the treatment type.

However, the study couldn't cover everything. It lacked certain details, like all possible treatments for vitiligo, including those not covered by insurance or over-the-counter options. This means the findings might not reflect the full picture of vitiligo treatment in the U.S., especially for those exploring experimental or self-management approaches. Despite these limitations, the study sheds important light on the current state of vitiligo treatment and the need for more comprehensive care.

 

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