Vitiligo: repigmentation with dermabrasion and thin split-thickness skin graft.

BACKGROUND

Vitiligo is a common benign condition of great concern. Though a large number of medical and surgical treatment methods are available, none of them is fully dependable in all the areas.

OBJECTIVE

Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) has been used for the treatment of vitiligo for over three decades, but it did not gain popularity. This presentation evaluates the degree of repigmentation achieved with this technique, its complications, and drawbacks.

METHODS

A case series of 21 patients with 32 localized, stable, and refractory vitiligo patches treated institutionally by dermabrasion and thin STSG has been presented. The patients have been followed up for 1-6 years. Three patients lost to follow-up before 1 year have not been included.

RESULTS

The graft take was 100% in 27 patches and 90-95% in the remaining five. One hundred percent repigmentation was achieved in 22 patches and 90-95% in 10. Time taken for satisfactory color match was 4-9 months (average, 6.3 months). The complications encountered were all minor and did not affect the results.

CONCLUSION

This is a simple, outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia resulting in an excellent color match on a long-term follow-up. This technique can be used over any part of the body, including the hair-bearing areas, without compromising the end results.