Open AccessApproaches to Repigmentation of Vitiligo Skin: New Treatment with Ultrasonic Abrasion, Seed‐Grafting and Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A Therapy
Author(s) -
Tsukamoto Katsuhiko,
Osada Atsushi,
Kitamura Reiko,
Ohkouchi Masayuki,
Shimada Shinji,
Takayama Osami
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
pigment cell research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0749
pISSN - 0893-5785
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0749.2002.02034.x
Subject(s) - vitiligo , puva therapy , psoralen , dermatology , grafting , epidermis (zoology) , medicine , suction blister , abrasion (mechanical) , psoriasis , surgery , biology , chemistry , materials science , anatomy , dna , organic chemistry , composite material , polymer , genetics
Vitiligo vulgaris is a common disease throughout the world although its pathogenesis is not yet known. The most frequent treatment used for vitiligo is PUVA (psoralen plus ultraviolet A) and topical steroids but against stable refractory vitiligo, various other surgical techniques have been developed such as autografting, epidermal grafting with suction blisters, epithelial sheet grafting, and transplantation of cultured melanocytes. We have discovered a new method using ultrasonic abrasion, seed‐grafting and PUVA therapy. The ultrasonic surgical aspirator abrades only the epidermis of recipient sites. This easily and safely removes only the epidermis, even on spotty lesions or intricate regions which are difficult to remove using a conventional motor‐driven grinder or liquid nitrogen. Epidermal seed‐grafting can cover more area than sheet‐grafting, and subsequent PUVA treatment can enlarge the area of pigmentation with coalescence of adjacent grafts. In this article, we provide a general overview of the current surgical therapies including our method for treating stable refractory vitiligo.