A study performed by researchers in Iran concluded that nbUVB vitiligo treatments are more successful when associated with topical immunomodulators (Elidel, Protopic).
“Sixty-eight patients with vitiligo enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The patients were randomized into two groups and treated with NB-UVB plus either pimecrolimus or placebo for 3 months. Tri-weekly radiation was started at 280 mj/cm2, with 15% increments for each subsequent treatment until erythema was reported or a maximum of 800 mj/cm was achieved.
At baseline and 6 and 12weeks after commencement of therapy, vitiliginous patches were measured. …

A couple of weeks ago I told you about my dermatologist taking a 3 month break from my treatments so as to protect my skin. My main concern was whether the newly pigmented skin would encourage new pigmentation in the surrounding areas or if it would fade.
I haven’t been using the protopic or taking my vitamins, because i wanted to view the results without interference. I believe the new pigmentation is slowly fading. And I’m noticing that some of the areas that were previously pink (normally the precursor to pigmentation) …

I received a comment on a previous post in which I wrote about protopic being added to my excimer xtrac laser treatments. The writer asked how it works on vitiligo; upon reading the question I laughed at myself because I had no idea. Why on earth had I not researched protopic a bit more before using it?
So, here it is…more info than you may need about protopic

What stuck out to me in this info:
1. no evidence of skin cancer has been associated with use of these agents in …

As of last friday, my dermatologist, Dr. Ring, has added protopic as part of my xtrac laser treatments. I am to apply it twice a day except on the day preceeding a treatment. I will keep you updated as to any changes which occur in pigmentation.