Washington, March 14: US researchers say skin transplant surgery is an effective way in treating vitiligo, a skin condition with no definite treatment.
Vitiligo, a chronic disorder characterized by depigmented skin patches, occurs when the melanocytes responsible for skin pigmentation die or become non-functional. The disease is most famously associated with the late artist Michael Jackson.
According to a study conducted in Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, transplanting healthy melanocyte cells and covering it with a special dressing can help the affected area regain up to 52 percent of its natural color.
Melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation (MKTP) is reported to help the hypopigmented area regain up to 74 percent of its color after treatment in patients with a specific type of vitiligo, the study found.
Compared to the standard treatments such as light therapy or medication, scientists conclude the innovative surgery to be more effective.
Scientists hope their findings will pave the way for the development of more effective techniques in treating patients with the skin disorder.
—–Agencies