Vitiligo: what is ruxolitinib as new 'life-changing' treatment to be offered on the NHS
Around one in 100 people in the UK live with vitiligo 🏥
- The NHS have approved a new treatment for the skin condition vitiligo.
- Around one in 100 people in the UK live with vitiligo.
- The new treatment will be offered to nearly 100,000 people aged 12 and over.
Thousands of patients will now benefit from a new “life-changing” treatment available on the NHS for the skin condition vitiligo.
Around one in 100 people in the UK live with the chronic skin condition, which causes pale or white patches of skin to develop.
The new cream will be offered to nearly 100,000 people aged 12 and over who have a form of the condition where white patches typically appear symmetrically on both sides of the face and body.
Professor Meghana Pandit, National Medical Director at NHS England, said: “For many people, vitiligo isn’t just a change in skin colour – it can affect how they see themselves and how they feel every day, particularly when it involves the face.
“We also know the condition can have a particularly significant impact on people with darker skin tones, where changes in pigmentation are more visible.
“For the first time, we now have an approved treatment available on the NHS that can significantly restore skin colour rather than simply covering the condition up. While it won’t be right for everyone, for some people this could make a profound difference to how they feel about themselves.”
What is vitiligo?
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to mistakenly attack melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin and the pigment that gives skin its colour, causing pale or white patches to form on the skin.
There are two main types, non-segmental vitiligo and segmental vitiligo. Non-segmental is the most common, affecting nine out of 10 cases. It causes white patches that symmetrically appear on both sides of your body. Segmental vitiligo is more common in children, causing white patches in one area of your body.
What are the symptoms of vitiligo?
Vitiligo can affect any area of the skin, but most commonly occurs on the face, neck and hands. It often starts as a pale patch of skin that gradually turns completely white. It is usually not painful but can cause itchy skin and have a significant impact on people’s confidence, sense of identity and mental health.
How will the new treatment work?
The new cream, known as ruxolitinib, works by calming the skin’s immune response that causes skin pigmentation. It is applied twice daily to affected areas of the skin and will be available where standard steroid creams have not worked or are unsuitable.
In clinical trials, the cream was found to significantly improve facial re-pigmentation, with patients seeing at least a 75% return of skin colour.
Until now, treatment options for vitiligo have included steroid creams, interventions that camouflage the skin, or light therapy, which requires repeated hospital visits and does not guarantee long-term results.
Abigail Hurrell, CEO of The Vitiligo Society, said: “For more than 40 years, The Vitiligo Society has campaigned relentlessly for effective, evidence‑based treatment options for people living with vitiligo. Today’s approval of ruxolitinib represents a historic milestone and the first time the NHS has recognised and funded a dedicated re-pigmentation treatment.
“This decision acknowledges the significant psychological, social and medical impact of vitiligo and marks a fundamental shift towards the equitable care our community has long deserved.”
The NHS have approved a new treatment for vitiligo. You can find out more about the skin condition, its signs, symptoms and how to get a diagnosis at NHS.UK.