For the millions of people who live with vitiligo, a disease that robs the skin of its natural color, a newly approved cream is quickly becoming a game changer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ruxolitinib for vitiligo in people aged 12 and older in July. The drug, part of a class known as Janus kinase inhibitors, targets JAK, a molecule involved in the development and progression of vitiligo.
An autoimmune disease that occurs when the body misfires against its own skin cells, vitiligo can be mild or severe and found anywhere on the body, although it typically affects the face and hands. Vitiligo affects people of all skin types but is often more noticeable in people with darker skin. Before the new cream's approval, dermatologists used topical steroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and phototherapy to treat vitiligo, he noted.
Vitiligo experts welcome the new medication and are optimistic about the vitiligo treatment pipeline. "This disease can take a dramatic toll on self-esteem," he explained."Half of all patients with vitiligo are diagnosed before the age of 20, and in the pediatric population, teasing, bullying, self-consciousness and embarrassment have been issues for patients.