Topical melagenine for repigmentation in twenty-two child patients with vitiligo on the scalp.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical melagenine for repigmentation in child patients with vitiligo on the scalp.

METHODS

Twenty-two child patients with vitiligo on the scalp were treated with 1.2 mg/ml aqueous melagenine in combination with 20 minutes of infrared exposure twice daily.

RESULTS

In 4 patients (18.2%), melagenine treatment in combination with infrared exposure led to complete recovery; in 6 patients (27.3%), treatment was shown to be effective; in 8 patients (36.3%), treatment led to improvements in patient condition; and only 4 patients (18.2%) showed no response after 1 - 2 treatment sessions. The general effective rate of melagenine-infrared combination treatment was 45.5% for the children with vitiligo on the scalp, and treatment was accompanied by minimal side effects.

CONCLUSION

Melagenine may be efficacious and a safe treatment option for childhood vitiligo affecting the scalp.