Mini punch grafts- reliable method of treatment for hairline vitiligo

Globally, about 1% of the population has vitiligo, treatment includes The most effective vitiligo therapies include topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, phototherapy, and surgery. The causes of vitiligo development and repigmentation are not fully understood. Vitiligo’s immunological pathogenic mechanism includes the destruction of melanocytes, oxidative stress, immune response, abnormalities in the immune inflammatory microenvironment, and dermal fiber components.

A recent study in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology reports sectioned mini punch grafts can help to manage hairline vitiligo or hairy areas vitiligo. This method can be considered a potential method for the treatment of hairline vitiligo.

Qiaochu Zhou and team aimed to tackle hairline vitiligo issue, by modifying the conventional mini-punch grafting with a combined application of mini-punch grafting and follicular hair transplant.

Five patients with localized hairline stable vitiligo aged 26– 32 years old had a history of nonsurgical treatments for at least 3 months and without progress. The grafts were transversely sectioned. The intact half follicles were preserved below the cross-section. Sectioned grafts were placed into the chambers for transplanting with forceps.

The key findings of the study are

• The treatment using transversely sectioned mini-punch grafting with the patient was performed for all five patients, and the results were satisfactory.

• In the area of the forehead outside the hairline with the sectioned mini-punch grafting above the cross-section, hair loss and repigmentation were observed.

• In the area of the hairy areas within the hairline, growing hair shafts and repigmentation were observed, without hair loss.

Qiaochu Zhou and team report this method can help to manage hairline vitiligo or hairy areas vitiligo. This method can be considered a potential method for the treatment of hairline vitiligo, thus providing a simple solution to complex problems.

Reference: Zhou Q, Wang W, Yu Q, Wang J, Zhu W. Transversely Sectioned Mini-Punch Grafting: A Novel Technique for Effective Treatment of Hairline Vitiligo. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023;16:1539-1543 DOI:https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S412948.