Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Medications Are Available for Vitiligo?Topical MedicationsOral MedicationsHow is Vitiligo Diagnosed?Nutrition for VitiligoOther ApproachesHow is Vitiligo Treated in ChildrenSummaryFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Medications Are Available for Vitiligo?

Topical Medications

Oral Medications

How is Vitiligo Diagnosed?

Nutrition for Vitiligo

Other Approaches

How is Vitiligo Treated in Children

Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Vitiligo is color loss in patches of your skin due to anautoimmune condition, where yourimmune (defense) systemattacks yourmelanocytes(color-making cells).

People might be at risk of vitiligo if it runs in the family, but environmental and other factors may also come into play as causes of vitiligo.

Other than topical and oral vitiligo medications, there are additional treatment options, such as phototherapy (light therapy) and surgery.

This article discusses more about some vitiligo medications—their side effects, precautions, and interactions.

Vitiligo medications influence your immune (defense) system to stop attackingmelanocytes(color-making cells) and restore skin color.

Female with vitiligo on her arms and hands holding a phone.SolStock / Getty Images

Female with vitiligo on her arms and hands holding a phone

SolStock / Getty Images

Topical vitiligo medications include the following:

If a dermatologist (skin doctor) recommends this medication for you, it might be Elocon (mometasone furoate) once daily for three months.Another option is to use this topical steroid product once daily for 15 days with a 14-day break every month for six months.

Calcineurin inhibitors:Topical calcineurin inhibitorsblock the activity of the calcineurin protein.This prevents the immune (defense) system from making certain substances.Calcineurin inhibitors are typically used twice weekly as first-line treatment options. Still, they are likely more effective for vitiligo patches on the face and neck when compared to other body areas.

In addition, for use as an initial treatment choice, calcineurin inhibitors might be used as maintenance therapy after phototherapy (light therapy). Moreover, calcineurin inhibitors are safe for long-term use.Examples of calcineurin inhibitors include Protopic (tacrolimus) and Elidel (pimecrolimus).

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors: JAK inhibitors block JAK proteins, reducing your immune system activity.Opzelura (ruxolitinib)is a JAK inhibitor used twice daily on up to 10 percent of your body.

Side Effects

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. Contact a pharmacist or healthcare provider if you experience other effects while using these topical vitiligo medications. You may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) atfda.gov/medwatchor 1-800-FDA-1088.

Side effects with topical vitiligo medications may include:

Get medical help immediately if you develop a severe allergic reaction or serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening.

Precautions

The following is a general—and may not be a complete—list of precautions. Discuss precaution concerns with a healthcare provider before using topical vitiligo medications.

Interactions

There is limited information about drug interactions for topical vitiligo medications. For example, there are no drug interaction studies for mometasone furoate.As forcalcipotriene, the package insert doesn’t list a drug interaction section for calcipotriene.

Moreover, Opzelura and calcineurin inhibitors don’t have formal drug interaction studies.There are, however, cautionary warnings about using Opzelura and tacrolimus with CYP3A4-inhibiting medications, which block the CYP3A4 protein from breaking down Opzelura and the calcineurin inhibitors.This means potentially higher levels of Opzelura and calcineurin inhibitors in the bloodstream and a higher chance of side effects.

CYP3A4-inhibiting medications consist of theerythromycinantibiotic andDiflucan (fluconazole)antifungal.Another class of CYP3A4-inhibiting medications includes thecalcium channel blockers(CCBs), such asCalan (verapamil).

This might not be a complete list of drug interactions. Before using any topical vitiligo medication, it’s a good idea to make a healthcare provider and pharmacist aware of your medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) items, herbal products, supplements, and natural medications.

There are fewer oral vitiligo medications than topical medications—just corticosteroids.Some examples include Decadron (dexamethasone),Medrol (methylprednisolone), andDeltasone (prednisone).

Mini-pulses of corticosteroids may also be combined with phototherapy (light therapy).

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. Contact a pharmacist or healthcare provider if you experience other effects while taking oral corticosteroids. You may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) atfda.gov/medwatchor 1-800-FDA-1088.

Side effects with oral corticosteroids may include:

Special Considerations

The following is a general—and may not be a complete—list of precautions. Discuss with a healthcare provider about precaution concerns before starting oral corticosteroids (steroids), such as prednisone.

When taking oral corticosteroids, use caution with the following medications:

This isn’t a complete list of potential drug interactions with oral corticosteroids. Contact a healthcare provider or pharmacist if you’re unsure whether oral corticosteroids will interact with your current medication.

It’s also good to make them aware of all your medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) items, herbal products, supplements, and natural medications.

While other tests and a skin biopsy are usually unnecessary, the healthcare provider may use these tests to rule out other medical conditions.

While higher-quality clinical trials are still necessary, some studies showed that oral antioxidants may restore skin color. For example, when combined with phototherapy (light therapy),vitamin E,Polypodium leucotomos, andGinkgo bilobamight help.

In general, antioxidants may delay the damage offree radicals(unstable molecules) to specific components (parts) within your body, including yourDNAgenetic material.

Other treatment approaches for vitiligo may also include:

Although additional extensive clinical trials are warranted, the following are a few alternative vitiligo medications or treatment options that might have some promise.

Some vitiligo medications and treatment options used in adults are also appropriate in children. The following are some examples:

However, depending on your child’s exact age, a dermatologist (skin doctor) might recommend some vitiligo medications and treatment choices over others.If you suspect that your child has vitiligo, contact a dermatologist to help evaluate the options available for your child.

While there is no cure for this skin condition, several vitiligo medications and treatment options are available for children and adults.

Since there are some precaution concerns, side effects, and potential interactions, make sure to involve a healthcare provider and pharmacist to help you achieve the best results and limit the adverse effects.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThe best medication for vitiligo depends on various factors, such as your age, skin type, treatment preferences, and vitiligo’s impact on your quality of life.Vitiligo is a medical condition that leads to patches of color loss in the skin.Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition, where your immune (defense) system attacks your melanocytes (color-making cells).People might be at risk of vitiligo if it runs in the family, but the environmental and other factors may also come into play as causes of vitiligo.

The best medication for vitiligo depends on various factors, such as your age, skin type, treatment preferences, and vitiligo’s impact on your quality of life.

Vitiligo is a medical condition that leads to patches of color loss in the skin.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition, where your immune (defense) system attacks your melanocytes (color-making cells).People might be at risk of vitiligo if it runs in the family, but the environmental and other factors may also come into play as causes of vitiligo.

27 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.Joge RR, Kathane PU, Joshi SH.Vitiligo: A narrative review.Cureus. 2022;14(9):e29307. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29307Marchioro HZ, Silva de Castro CC, Fava VM, et al.Update on the pathogenesis of vitiligo.An Bras Dermatol. 2022;97(4):478-490. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2021.09.008Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K.Vitiligo: A review.Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-592. doi: 10.1159/000506103Böhm M, Schunter JA, Fritz K, et al.S1 guideline: Diagnosis and therapy of vitiligo.JDDG. 2022;20(3):365-378. doi: 10.1111/ddg.14713National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Vitiligo: Diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.MedlinePlus.Mometasone topical.Food and Drug Administration.Tacrolimus label.MedlinePlus.Pimecrolimus topical.MedlinePlus.Tacrolimus topical.Food and Drug Administration.Elidel label.Medline Plus.Calcipotriene topical.MedlinePlus.Ruxolitinib topical.Food and Drug Administration.Opzelura label.Food and Drug Administration.Mometasone furoate cream label.Food and Drug Administration.Calcipotriene cream label.Food and Drug Administration.Drug development and drug interactions | Table of substrates, inhibitors and inducers.MedlinePlus.Prednisone.MedlinePlus.Dexamethasone.Food and Drug Administration.Prednisone label.MedlinePlus.Phenytoin.MedlinePlus.Ritonavir.MedlinePlus.Digoxin.MedlinePlus.Ciprofloxacin.MedlinePlus.Levofloxacin.MedlinePlus.Cholestyramine resin.MedlinePlus.Cyclosporine.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hiding child’s skin condition with makeup may boost self-esteem.

27 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.Joge RR, Kathane PU, Joshi SH.Vitiligo: A narrative review.Cureus. 2022;14(9):e29307. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29307Marchioro HZ, Silva de Castro CC, Fava VM, et al.Update on the pathogenesis of vitiligo.An Bras Dermatol. 2022;97(4):478-490. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2021.09.008Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K.Vitiligo: A review.Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-592. doi: 10.1159/000506103Böhm M, Schunter JA, Fritz K, et al.S1 guideline: Diagnosis and therapy of vitiligo.JDDG. 2022;20(3):365-378. doi: 10.1111/ddg.14713National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Vitiligo: Diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.MedlinePlus.Mometasone topical.Food and Drug Administration.Tacrolimus label.MedlinePlus.Pimecrolimus topical.MedlinePlus.Tacrolimus topical.Food and Drug Administration.Elidel label.Medline Plus.Calcipotriene topical.MedlinePlus.Ruxolitinib topical.Food and Drug Administration.Opzelura label.Food and Drug Administration.Mometasone furoate cream label.Food and Drug Administration.Calcipotriene cream label.Food and Drug Administration.Drug development and drug interactions | Table of substrates, inhibitors and inducers.MedlinePlus.Prednisone.MedlinePlus.Dexamethasone.Food and Drug Administration.Prednisone label.MedlinePlus.Phenytoin.MedlinePlus.Ritonavir.MedlinePlus.Digoxin.MedlinePlus.Ciprofloxacin.MedlinePlus.Levofloxacin.MedlinePlus.Cholestyramine resin.MedlinePlus.Cyclosporine.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hiding child’s skin condition with makeup may boost self-esteem.

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.

Joge RR, Kathane PU, Joshi SH.Vitiligo: A narrative review.Cureus. 2022;14(9):e29307. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29307Marchioro HZ, Silva de Castro CC, Fava VM, et al.Update on the pathogenesis of vitiligo.An Bras Dermatol. 2022;97(4):478-490. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2021.09.008Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K.Vitiligo: A review.Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-592. doi: 10.1159/000506103Böhm M, Schunter JA, Fritz K, et al.S1 guideline: Diagnosis and therapy of vitiligo.JDDG. 2022;20(3):365-378. doi: 10.1111/ddg.14713National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Vitiligo: Diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.MedlinePlus.Mometasone topical.Food and Drug Administration.Tacrolimus label.MedlinePlus.Pimecrolimus topical.MedlinePlus.Tacrolimus topical.Food and Drug Administration.Elidel label.Medline Plus.Calcipotriene topical.MedlinePlus.Ruxolitinib topical.Food and Drug Administration.Opzelura label.Food and Drug Administration.Mometasone furoate cream label.Food and Drug Administration.Calcipotriene cream label.Food and Drug Administration.Drug development and drug interactions | Table of substrates, inhibitors and inducers.MedlinePlus.Prednisone.MedlinePlus.Dexamethasone.Food and Drug Administration.Prednisone label.MedlinePlus.Phenytoin.MedlinePlus.Ritonavir.MedlinePlus.Digoxin.MedlinePlus.Ciprofloxacin.MedlinePlus.Levofloxacin.MedlinePlus.Cholestyramine resin.MedlinePlus.Cyclosporine.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hiding child’s skin condition with makeup may boost self-esteem.

Joge RR, Kathane PU, Joshi SH.Vitiligo: A narrative review.Cureus. 2022;14(9):e29307. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29307

Marchioro HZ, Silva de Castro CC, Fava VM, et al.Update on the pathogenesis of vitiligo.An Bras Dermatol. 2022;97(4):478-490. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2021.09.008

Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K.Vitiligo: A review.Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-592. doi: 10.1159/000506103

Böhm M, Schunter JA, Fritz K, et al.S1 guideline: Diagnosis and therapy of vitiligo.JDDG. 2022;20(3):365-378. doi: 10.1111/ddg.14713

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Vitiligo: Diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.

MedlinePlus.Mometasone topical.

Food and Drug Administration.Tacrolimus label.

MedlinePlus.Pimecrolimus topical.

MedlinePlus.Tacrolimus topical.

Food and Drug Administration.Elidel label.

Medline Plus.Calcipotriene topical.

MedlinePlus.Ruxolitinib topical.

Food and Drug Administration.Opzelura label.

Food and Drug Administration.Mometasone furoate cream label.

Food and Drug Administration.Calcipotriene cream label.

Food and Drug Administration.Drug development and drug interactions | Table of substrates, inhibitors and inducers.

MedlinePlus.Prednisone.

MedlinePlus.Dexamethasone.

Food and Drug Administration.Prednisone label.

MedlinePlus.Phenytoin.

MedlinePlus.Ritonavir.

MedlinePlus.Digoxin.

MedlinePlus.Ciprofloxacin.

MedlinePlus.Levofloxacin.

MedlinePlus.Cholestyramine resin.

MedlinePlus.Cyclosporine.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hiding child’s skin condition with makeup may boost self-esteem.

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