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Dermatol Res Skin Care 2017 | Volume 1 Issue 1
World
Dermatologist Summit and Skin Care Expo
October 30-31, 2017 | Toronto, Canada
V
itiligo is a pigmentary disorder, characterized by acquired,
progressive, and well-defined depigmentation of the
skin, hair and mucosal surfaces. Regarding its pathogeneses,
several hypotheses have been suggested among them,
stress, autoimmune factors, genetic predisposition, toxic
agents, altered cellular environment, imbalance in the
oxidant-antioxidant system, and impaired melanocyte
migration and/or proliferation are the most important ones.
Zinc is a trace element which has many vital functions in
human, particularly as antiapoptotic and antioxidant factor.
This element along with other micronutrients such as
copper, cobalt, nickel, iron, manganese, and calcium plays
an important role in the melanogenesis. For the first time,
Bagherani et al. prescribed oral zinc sulphate as a novel
option for the treatment of vitiligo. In a clinical trial, they
compared the efficacy of topical corticosteroid with and
without oral zinc sulphate in treating vitiligo. This study
revealed that the combination of topical corticosteroid and
oral zinc was more effective than the topical steroid alone,
although this difference was not statistically significant.
Other studies also supported the association of zinc and
vitiligo. Suggested mechanisms for justifying the efficacy of
zinc in preventing and treating vitiligo include prevention of
melanocyte apoptosis, inhibition of oxidative stress, its effect
on the melanogenesis, its role as an immunomodulatory
agent, its antibacterial role, stimulation of α- melanocyte
stimulating hormone release, and precipitation of Zn-α2-
glycoprotein in the site of lesions.
e:
nooshinbagherani@yahoo.comThe role of zinc in the treatment of vitiligo
Nooshin Bagherani
Arak University of Medical Sciences, Iran