Tens of thousands with condition that blighted Michael Jackson to be offered ‘life-changing’ new cream to restore skin colour
Tens of thousands of Britons living with vitiligo – the skin condition that affected Michael Jackson – are set to be offered a groundbreaking new NHS treatment that can restore lost skin colour for the first time.
Nearly 100,000 patients aged 12 and over with a common form of the autoimmune condition that causes white patches to appear on the face and body will be eligible for the new cream, called ruxolitinib, following a deal struck by the NHS.
Experts have hailed the treatment as ‘life-changing’ for some patients, particularly those whose vitiligo affects the face – an area that can have a profound impact on confidence, identity and mental health.
The twice-daily cream works by calming the immune system attack that destroys pigment-producing cells, allowing skin colour to gradually return.
Clinical trials showed many patients achieved at least a 75 per cent restoration of colour on affected areas of the face after six months of treatment.
Vitiligo affects around one in 100 people in the UK and can strike at any age.
Other famous sufferers include supermodel Winnie Harlow, who shot to fame after appearing on America’s Next Top Model and has since become one of the fashion industry’s most recognisable faces.
Until now, treatment options on the NHS have been limited largely to camouflage products, steroid creams – which can thin the skin if used long-term – or light therapy that requires repeated hospital visits and does not always deliver lasting results.
Tens of thousands of Britons living with vitiligo – the skin condition that affected Michael Jackson – are set to be offered a new treatment to restore lost skin colour for the first time
Famous sufferers include supermodel Winnie Harlow, who shot to fame after appearing on America’s Next Top Model and has since become one of the fashion industry’s most recognisable faces
Professor Meghana Pandit, National Medical Director at NHS England, said the approval marked a major shift in care.
‘For many people, vitiligo isn’t just a cosmetic issue – it affects how they see themselves and how they feel every day, particularly when it involves the face,’ she said.
‘For the first time, we now have an NHS-approved treatment that can actually restore skin colour rather than simply cover the condition up. While it won’t be right for everyone, for some people it could make a profound difference.’
The drug had previously been rejected for NHS use last year, but was approved following a rapid review and negotiations with manufacturer Incyte, clearing the way for its rollout.
Vitiligo affects around one in 100 people in the UK, with similar rates seen globally. In the United States, estimates suggest between one and two per cent of the population live with the condition – equating to several million people.
The disorder is autoimmune, meaning the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks melanocytes – the specialised skin cells that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour.
As these cells are damaged or destroyed, pale or white patches appear on the skin and sometimes in the hair.
Vitiligo can affect any part of the body but most commonly appears on the face, hands, arms and around body openings such as the mouth and eyes.
In many cases, patches develop symmetrically on both sides of the body.
It affects people of all ethnic backgrounds at similar rates, but changes in skin colour are often more visible in people with darker skin tones, meaning the condition can have a particularly significant emotional impact.
The condition is not contagious and is not physically painful. However, studies consistently show it can be associated with anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, particularly when visible areas such as the face are affected.
Vitiligo can begin at any age but often develops before the age of 30.
It is thought to be triggered in some people by factors including illness, emotional stress, sunburn or skin trauma, particularly in those with a genetic predisposition.
Ruxolitinib works by dampening the immune signals that drive this attack on melanocytes, allowing pigment-producing cells to recover and skin colour to gradually return – rather than simply disguising the condition.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible, most commonly mild skin reactions such as redness or irritation where the cream is applied.
