As reported by the National Health Executive, a breakthrough treatment for vitiligo is set to become available on the NHS, offering new hope to people affected by visible loss of skin colour
The topical therapy, ruxolitinib, will be rolled out for patients aged 12 and over with non-segmental vitiligo, potentially benefiting around 100,000 people across England.
Applied morning and evening, ruxolitinib works beneath the surface of the skin by dampening the immune signals that attack melanocytes, the cells that produce colour. Evidence from clinical trials showed that many patients saw substantial improvement, particularly on the face, with at least three quarters of pigment returning in treated areas.
Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states the treatment can be offered to:
• Adults and young people aged 12 and above
• People diagnosed with non-segmental vitiligo
• Those with facial involvement or symmetrical patches on the body
• Patients who have not had success with steroid creams or are unable to use them
Patients are expected to use the cream for several months before doctors assess whether it is delivering sufficient benefit, typically at around the six-month mark.
The therapy will be prescribed when standard topical steroids have proved unsuitable or ineffective. Its approval follows a pricing agreement reached by NHS England, reversing an earlier decision in August 2025 when the treatment was not recommended for routine NHS use.
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