New Pigmentation After Medical Treatment Suggests Increased Efficacy of Dermabrasion and Noncultured Epidermal Cell Suspension Techniques in Stable Vitiligo

BACKGROUND Stable vitiligo has been treated by dermabrasion and noncultured epidermal cell suspension (NCES) effectively. However, not all patches respond well. OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of new pigmentation after medical treatment in the therapy of stable vitiligo. MATERIALS AND METHODS Medical records were retrospectively reviewed from October 2016 to March 2019, and 134 patients with stable vitiligo after medical therapy were further treated with NCES. They were divided into 2 groups: 70 patients in Group 1 had new pigmentation, whereas 64 patients in Group 2 did not. Repigmentation and satisfaction of patients and third-party assessors were evaluated at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS Repigmentation was scored as excellent (≥76%), good (51%–75%), fair (26%–50%), or poor (≤25%). Repigmentation of the 2 groups at 6 months postoperatively was excellent in 82.9% versus 23.4%, good in 10.0% versus 15.6%, fair in 7.1% versus 13.0%, and poor in 0% versus 48.4%, respectively. A positive correlation between satisfaction and repigmentation was found. CONCLUSION New pigmentation after medical treatment suggests increased efficacy of NCES in treating stable vitiligo.