title: Accelerating bleaching in vitiligo: balancing benefits versus risks.
abstract: While the goal of available treatment in vitiligo is to regain pigmentation, some patients affected by extensive and treatment-resistant vitiligo, with a major social and emotional impact, may benefit from depigmentation therapy. However, results from such therapy may not always be satisfactory. So to achieve better, faster and complete bleaching, Webb et al. propose a synergistic approach that combines topical application of bleaching phenols which targets melanocytes and initiate local inflammation with immune adjuvants so as to obtain an enhanced immune response against remaining melanocytes. This strategy could be reliable, but should be evaluated cautiously in future studies, in terms of potential side effects and induction of undesired autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology, National Centre for Rare Skin disorders, Hôpital Saint-André, Bordeaux, France; INSERM U1035, Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seneschal
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boniface
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ezzedine
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taieb
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D006873:Hydroquinones; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations; C006429:monobenzone; D000077271:Imiquimod
keywords: bleaching phenols; immune adjuvants; vitiligo