Colouring the Skin (For Professionals)

Colouring the Skin (For Professionals)

“Leukoderma encompasses a variety of conditions that arise from perturbations of melanocyte function or disappearance of melanocytes. Although leukoderma does not cause physical disabilities, the psychosocial embarrassement it presents can be tremendous, especially if it is present on exposed parts of the body, such as the face, neck or limbs. This is particularly true with vitiligo, post-burn depigmentation and leukoderma associated with DLE (discoid lupus erythematosus), as well as congenital lesions like piebaldism and naevus depigmentosus.

Localized leukoderma may respond to targeted phototherapy like Excimer laser or tunable multiple-wavelength UVB system (e.g. Multiclear) provided that follicular reservoirs of melanocytes are present. In the absence of melanocyte reserves, surgical grafting using autologous tissues or melanocytes becomes the viable option. The advantages of non-cultured cellular grafting include the capability to repigment a recipient site 5 to 10 times the area of donor skin, completion of the surgery in an outpatient setting within 3 to 4 hours, and the obviation of xenobiotics that are required if melanocytes are cultivated.

Advances in non-cellular grafting techniques have been made over the last 5 years, resulting in improved epidermal cell extraction from donor skin, reduction of run-off of cellular suspension on contoured surfaces, and enhanced repigmentation results. Melanocytes can now be derived from the outer root sheath of hairs and be used to repigment leukoderma.”

Contributors:

Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source: GOH Boon Kee. Colour Me Beautiful – Surgical and Laser Options for Leukoderma