Key TakeawaysOpzelura (ruxolitinib), the first topical cream to treat vitiligo, recently gained FDA approval.Based on data from the clinical trials, 30% of the participants regained at least 75% skin repigmentation on their face.People who have the condition can now request Opzelura from a board-certified dermatologist.
Key Takeaways
Opzelura (ruxolitinib), the first topical cream to treat vitiligo, recently gained FDA approval.Based on data from the clinical trials, 30% of the participants regained at least 75% skin repigmentation on their face.People who have the condition can now request Opzelura from a board-certified dermatologist.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 19approvedOpzelura (ruxolitinib), the first and only topical treatment forvitiligoin patients 12 years of age and older.
Dermatologists said the approved medication is a huge advancement for patients with vitiligo and it can lead to repigmentation of the skin.
“The dermatology community is so excited that we finally have something effective, FDA-approved, and readily available and easy to use for our patients with vitiligo,”Amy Spizuoco, DO, FAOCD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, told Verywell. “It’s groundbreaking and going to be life-changing for people who are suffering from a chronic autoimmune condition.”
What Is Vitiligo?Vitiligois an autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigmentation or color. When the immune system attacksmelanocytes—skin cells that make a pigment called melanin—it causes the skin to turn milky-white in color.Nonsegmental vitiligo is the most common type and can affect any individual regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity. This form of vitiligo appears in white patches symmetrically on both sides of the body. It can also occur on the face, neck, scalp, legs, arms, mouth, and genitals.
What Is Vitiligo?
Vitiligois an autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigmentation or color. When the immune system attacksmelanocytes—skin cells that make a pigment called melanin—it causes the skin to turn milky-white in color.Nonsegmental vitiligo is the most common type and can affect any individual regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity. This form of vitiligo appears in white patches symmetrically on both sides of the body. It can also occur on the face, neck, scalp, legs, arms, mouth, and genitals.
Vitiligois an autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigmentation or color. When the immune system attacksmelanocytes—skin cells that make a pigment called melanin—it causes the skin to turn milky-white in color.
Nonsegmental vitiligo is the most common type and can affect any individual regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity. This form of vitiligo appears in white patches symmetrically on both sides of the body. It can also occur on the face, neck, scalp, legs, arms, mouth, and genitals.
Why This New Treatment Matters
Based on data from two Phase 3 clinical trials, 30% of the participants who used Opzelura regained at least 75% skin repigmentation on their face.
Prince Adotama, MD, a dermatologist at NYU Langone Health, told Verywell that approval of Opzelura offers a different and less invasive option to help treat vitiligo, beyond phototherapy and topical steroids.
How Vitiligo Is Treated
“Phototherapy requires you to leave the home two or three times a week on a regular basis and steroids can have harmful side effects, so this new treatment gives patients a lot more control,” Adotama said.
“Vitiligo affects a lot of people and even patients of color who tend to have darker skin complexion. These white patches can be very stigmatizing and isolating and can make patients feel uncomfortable,” Adotama said.
Berardo Rivas, who’s had vitiligo since he was 10, was enrolled in the Phase 3 trial for Opzelura.
“I had vitiligo around my eyes, eyebrows, lips, elbows, and knees. I started seeing results at three months and then it started progressing,” Rivas told Verywell. “At my year mark, I have about 50% of facial repigmentation back on my skin. Now, at almost two years, I have less than 5% of vitiligo on my skin.”
After the yearlong trial, he has continued the treatment for over two years now.
“I’ve tried numerous treatments from UV lighting, other topical creams, and even vitamins, but Opzelura is the only treatment that has worked for me and it has made my life much better,” Rivas said. “Assuming it worked for me brings hope that something out there can work for others who have vitiligo as well.”
Two months into the clinical trial of Opzelura.Photo Courtesy of Berardo Rivas
Photo Courtesy of Berardo Rivas
How Does Opzelura Work?
The cream is considered to be a topicalJanus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, which is an anti-inflammatory treatment, according to Spizuoco.
“JAK inhibitors tend to be safer in the long term than steroids," Spizuoco said. “We don’t have to worry about some of the overuse side effects that we can see from topical steroids such as thinning of the skin, enlarged blood vessels, and stretch marks.”
However, it can take as long as 24 weeks of consistent use of the cream before patients can see results.
“I applied the cream twice a day, eight hours apart for the last two years, so it’s a pain,” Rivas said. “But it’s also not going to be a treatment where you put it on today and you’re going to see results tomorrow.”
Rivas said he started noticing repigmentation on his skin three months after starting his treatment. This photo was taken eight months into the clinical trial.Photo Courtesy of Berardo Rivas
At this time, it’s unclear whether patients who are using Opzelura need to continue treatment beyond 24 weeks or longer, especially if repigmentation is occurring.
“We don’t have the data yet to show what that looks like, but if patients reach the limit and then go back on the medication, it would be perfectly acceptable for them,” Spizuoco said.
Known Side Effects
The most common adverse reactions or side effects of taking Opzelura include pain or swelling in the nose or throat, diarrhea, bronchitis, ear infection, increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophil) count, hives, inflamed hair pores, swelling of the tonsils, and runny nose.
The labeling for the cream also includes a boxed warning for serious bacterial, viral, and fungal infections;lymphomasand other cancers; cardiovascular events including heart attack and stroke; thrombosis; and increased all-cause mortality.
These are not all of the possible side effects of using Opzelura. Patients should discuss with their healthcare provider about the risks and benefits if they are considering this treatment.
What This Means For YouPeople over the age of 12 with vitiligo can now get a prescription for Opzelura, the only FDA-approved topical treatment for the condition. Experts recommend patients contact their board-certified dermatologist to discuss and make a decision together if Opzelura is an appropriate medication for them.
What This Means For You
People over the age of 12 with vitiligo can now get a prescription for Opzelura, the only FDA-approved topical treatment for the condition. Experts recommend patients contact their board-certified dermatologist to discuss and make a decision together if Opzelura is an appropriate medication for them.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Is vitiligo a medical condition?Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves topical treatment addressing repigmentation in vitiligo in patients aged 12 and older.Opzelura (ruxolitinib).Safety and side effects.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Opzelura—ruxolitinib cream[label].
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Is vitiligo a medical condition?Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves topical treatment addressing repigmentation in vitiligo in patients aged 12 and older.Opzelura (ruxolitinib).Safety and side effects.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Opzelura—ruxolitinib cream[label].
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology.Is vitiligo a medical condition?Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves topical treatment addressing repigmentation in vitiligo in patients aged 12 and older.Opzelura (ruxolitinib).Safety and side effects.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Opzelura—ruxolitinib cream[label].
American Academy of Dermatology.Is vitiligo a medical condition?
Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves topical treatment addressing repigmentation in vitiligo in patients aged 12 and older.
Opzelura (ruxolitinib).Safety and side effects.
National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Opzelura—ruxolitinib cream[label].
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