Its groundbreaking and going to be life-changing for people who are suffering from a chronic autoimmune condition.
What Is Vitiligo?
Vitiligois an autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigmentation or color.
Lara Antal / Verywell
This form of vitiligo appears in white patches symmetrically on both sides of the body.
Opzelura is owned and manufactured byIncyteDermatology.
Vitiligo affects a lot of people and even patients of color who tend to have darker skin complexion.
Photo Courtesy of Berardo Rivas
These white patches can be very stigmatizing and isolating and can make patients feel uncomfortable, Adotama said.
I had vitiligo around my eyes, eyebrows, lips, elbows, and knees.
I started seeing results at three months and then it started progressing, Rivas told Verywell.
Photo Courtesy of Berardo Rivas
At my year mark, I have about 50% of facial repigmentation back on my skin.
Now, at almost two years, I have less than 5% of vitiligo on my skin.
After the yearlong trial, he has continued the treatment for over two years now.
Photo Courtesy of Berardo Rivas
How Does Opzelura Work?
Opzelura is a cream for topical use only, according to the FDA.
JAK inhibitors tend to be safer in the long term than steroids," Spizuoco said.
Lee added that Opzelura works by blocking immune cells from destroying melanocytes, the pigment-producing cell in the skin.
By blocking this autoimmune reaction, the melanocytes can re-pigment the skin.
These are not all of the possible side effects of using Opzelura.
Patients should discuss with their healthcare provider about the risks and benefits if they are considering this treatment.
American Academy of Dermatology.Is vitiligo a medical condition?
Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves topical treatment addressing repigmentation in vitiligo in patients aged 12 and older.
Opzelura (ruxolitinib).Safety and side effects.
National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Opzeluraruxolitinib cream[label].
