Regenerative medicine, including cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and stem cell-based treatments, offers promising results for managing vitiligo by addressing its root causes—damaged melanocytes responsible for skin pigmentation.
A comprehensive review published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology analyzed 48 studies involving 2,186 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of these treatments.
This study highlighted positive outcomes from various approaches, such as melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation (MKTP), which achieved over 50% repigmentation within nine months, and PRP injections, which showed an average of 58.7% repigmentation when combined with CO2 laser therapy. Hair follicle cell transplantation also demonstrated strong results, with up to 93.8% of patients achieving good to excellent repigmentation. Minor side effects, such as pain, were reported but no serious complications occurred.
The authors emphasized the need for better-designed clinical trials with long-term follow-ups and patient-focused metrics. They also suggested exploring emerging therapies such as stromal vascular fraction and exosomes to enhance vitiligo care.
