Vitiligo, a depigmenting skin disorder, is characterized by the selective loss of melanocytes, which in turn leads to pigment dilution or loss in the affected areas of the skin. Vitiligo reportedly affects 0.5% to 2% of the world's population, without a clear preference for race or sex. Vitiligo is clinically classified into two main clinical patterns: nonsegmental and segmental. Dermoscopy facilitates the diagnosis of vitiligo .and can be used to assess the evolution of the stage of the disease (stability, progression, repigmentation) as well as the response to treatment. Stability of vitiligo refers to the arrest of disease activity, in terms of the absence of new lesions, no extension of pre-existing lesions, and an absence of Koebner's phenomenon among other features. The duration of stability is a matter of debate, ranging from as little as six months to as long as two years Recent studies have indicated that skin lesions observed in vitiligo tend to recur in the same places where they were found before treatment. This phenomenon is explained by the presence of a recently described subset of memory T cells known as cluster of differentiation( CD8 + )resident memory T cells (TRM) in lesional vitiligo patient skin and a role in disease maintenance and relapse following treatment has been suggested. Thus, the use of immunosuppressants/modulators could ameliorate their activity hence playing a role in stabilizing or treating the disease. . They could also improve the results of surgical options utilized in stable vitiligo refractory to medical treatments including tissue grafts (full-thickness punch, split-thickness, and suction blister grafts), cellular grafts (autologous melanocyte cultures and non-cultured epidermal cellular grafts. In addition to cultured epidermal suspensions and hair follicle transplantation These immune-modulators include: systemic and topical corticosteroids, a topical calcineurin inhibitor, and phototherapy
The study to compare the outcomes of mini punch grafting in patients with resistant stable non-segmental vitiligo already on narrowband ultraviolet B and receiving either no additional medication , systemic mini pulse (high and low dose) steroids, topical superpotent steroids once every other day , or daily tacrolimus ointment .in terms of the extent of repigmentation , frequency of reactivation and side effects.