Role of Tazarotene in Treatment of Vitiligo

Abstract Background: Vitiligo is a depigmenting disorder in which genetic factors, oxidative stress, autoimmune response, in-flammatory mediators and detachment of melanocytes, all are mechanisms that contribute to the development of the disease. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of vitiligo. It is usually the triggering factor of vitiligo, as mel-anocytes of vitiligo patients are more susceptible to oxidative stress. Tazarotene a topical retinoidwhich have been used in several indications as psoriasis, acne vulgaris, photoaging and T cell lymphoma. Topical retinoids have the following effects i. renewing the epidermis, ii. Acting as UV filters, iii. Prevent-ing formation of oxidative stress, iv. control bacterial flora., v. modulating melanocyte functions. Aim of Study: Asses the efficacy of tazarotene in treatment of vitiligo. Patients and Methods: Thirty patients with vitiligo vulgaris and acral vitiligo were included in this study. 0.1% tazarotene gel was given to all patients to be applied daily on affected area, once daily at night for 12 weeks. Evaluation was done using Vitiligo Extent Score for a Target Area (VESTA). Results: VESTA score showed improvement after 12 weeks of treatment. The median of VESTA measured before treatment is 0% then after 6 weeks 20% then 40% after 12 weeks, with p-value <0.001, Patients with acral lesions showed less improve-ment than others with statistical significance p-value <0.001. Conclusion: Tazarotene is effective in treating vitiligo, but less effective in acral vitiligo.