Does Elidel Work For Vitiligo

I have Vitiligo and the dermatologist gave me Elidel to help with it, But I want to if Elidel really works before I waste my time with it, I am dark skinned but the light patches I have aren't white/pale their just a lighter brown, and most of my arms are the light colored brown, It's confusing because I though vitiligo makes the skin pale, please help me if you can.

[free3667]

I too have vitiligo and never used Elidel. First, this drug is considered a immunomodulator that inhibits t-cell activation and prevents the release of inflammatory cytokines from mast cells. To my knowledge, vitiligo is NOT an inflammatory problem. So why would an anti inflammatory drug work on it. Although vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder and this effects the t-cells, maybe thats why doctors prescribed it. I have only heard people taking psorlan drugs or UV therapy to try to repigment those white areas. Unfortunately psorlan drugs have side effects. Usually all the topicals require to either avoid the sunlight or use in the sunlight to activate them. I have light skin so mine don't seem as bad as those who are darker skinned. Then tend to show much more in all seasons, where mine is generally worse looking in summer months when I tan. The treatment is long term and no real  guarantees to work. I have given up at this point because the UV treatment is difficult to follow and very time consuming. Since you had seen a dermatologist at least try it for several weeks and see if you notice any pigment changes. Usually its gets darker around the edges as the new melanin is regenerated. Best of luck.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Treatment options for vitiligo include steroids,psoralen photochemotherapy(PUVA),depigmentation and surgical therapy like skin grafting,micropigmentation or tattooing and autologous melanocyte transplants.However the choice of therapy depends on the number of white patches; their location, sizes, and how widespread they are and the option that is convenient to you.

Elidel is an immunomodulator and is used for vitiligo when used with UVB narrowband treatments. So you can discuss about these treatments with your dermatologist.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Ej93]

thank you both I do remember getting the UVB narrowband before while I was taking the Elidel, for some reason I had stopped taking the Elidel and now I'm taking it again but I haven't had the UVB lately, I will ask them to use both of them again b/c my skin cleared up a lil bit when they did both.