Abstract
Vitiligo is a challenging disorder to treat, and to date no treatment provides truly satisfactory results. However, from molecules that target the immune system to therapies that stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of melanocytes and/or melanocyte progenitors and others that fight against radical species or bring new melanocytes to the affected areas, we have many strategies to repigment vitiligo patches. Association of surgical procedures with phototherapy was the first to demonstrate that combination approaches could further increase repigmentation rates. The interest of combining medical approaches is now also well demonstrated in several prospective randomized studies. This is mainly true for the association of topical treatments, such as calcineurin inhibitor or topical corticosteroids, with phototherapy. Other interesting associations are those between antioxidants and lasers, but the data remain limited. New strategies have been also reported aiming to reduce the risk of relapse after achieving repigmentation. The development in the near future of targeted immune treatments but also new topical drugs aiming to enhance the differentiation of melanocyte stem cells should lead to new and hopefully more effective combination or sequential protocols adapted to the severity and the activity of each vitiligo.
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Passeron, T. (2019). Combined/Sequential/Integrated Therapies for Vitiligo. In: Picardo, M., Taïeb, A. (eds) Vitiligo. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62960-5_38
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