Vitiligo: First licensed cream approved by NICE brings hope for 80,000 patients

Credit: Getty Images/Drs Producoes

By Storm Newton, PA Media

A new cream for vitiligo has been given the green light for NHS use, giving hope to more than 80,000 people across England.

Ruxolitinib, sold under the brand name Opzelura, is the first licensed treatment to be recommended for patients with the chronic skin condition.

The move by NICE “acknowledges the significant psychological, social and medical impact” of the condition, experts said.

There are two main types of vitiligo; non-segmental, when patches appear on both sides of the body symmetrically; and segmental, when patches only affect one area.

Ruxolitinib is recommended for patients aged 12 and over with non-segmental vitiligo that affects the face, when other topical first-line treatments have failed or are not suitable.

The cream, applied twice daily, works by calming the immune system’s attack, allowing skin cells to repair and regain their natural colour.

Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “Vitiligo that affects the face can be a devastating disease and have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life.