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The Official International Vitiligo Research Foundation Stated that Kuwait University’s Treatment is Among the New Authorized Treatments Around the Globe and is considered  a “Detailed Treatment” Method

Dr. Salman Al-Sabah - Assistant Vice President for External Research Collaboration and Consultation, conducted a meeting with the Executive Director of Vitiligo Research Foundation and a faculty member at Marconi University - Mr.  Yan Valle, along with the researcher leading the development of the vitiligo treatment, and faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine - Mr. Mohammad Al-Ansari, who represented the medical and research team.

The meeting came following the Vitiligo Research Foundation’s statement that Kuwait University’s treatment is among the authorized treatments around the world, and one of the new and innovative “detailed treatment” methods. It should be noted that Vitiligo Research Foundation is the official international foundation to support vitiligo research, which works under the membership of the Social and Economic Council at the United Nations UN ECOSOC, and supports research institutions with the aim of reaching new treatments for vitiligo.

The meeting was initiated with Mr. Mohammad Al-Ansari explaining the basic concept of the vitiligo treatment, which is based on the use of treatments comprised of different components depending on the response in each case. The concept of the first treatment is based on the depigmentation of the skin with immune regulators that are separated in application and sequence with another treatment that stabilizes the activity of the first treatment, revitalizes the skin, nourishes it and protects it from excessive oxidative activity after the first treatment and various antioxidants with other stimuli. Al-Ansari added that these treatment components have been designed and selected from natural and herbal ingredients and are authorized in fifty countries so far, and the treatment is being registered in the rest of the countries as a cosmetic treatment that works on the skin layer only. Al-Ansari explained that the treatment using antioxidants alone does not give promising results, and these formulations are more efficient than traditional treatments. Experiments have shown an improvement in the affected areas in vitiligo or the whiteness of skin after burns.

Al-Ansari also pointed out that the first treatment differs from revitalizing treatments (PUVA) in three aspects:
First: PUVA is one component that is activated via ultraviolet rays. As for the new treatment, its components are activates across both spectrums (A, B), which indicates that the use of Spectrum (B) is less harmful.
Second: The new treatment contains other components such as immune regulators and components that reduce the side effects of phototherapy such as anti-inflammatory, which was not available during previous PUVA treatments.
Third: The concentration and type of active components showed a lower activity in the light spectrum compared to PUVA, and both treatments were designed to have a low concentration in one, and the other to have a concentration close to the activity of psoralen in PUVA.

Al-Ansari pointed out that the difference in concentrations is important in terms of the condition of vitiligo. Those with light skin tones and skin tone number (2, 3, and 4) begin treatment with a low concentration of the first treatment. As for the more concentrated treatment, it is used for people with dark skin tones, or for those who have used phototherapy and laser treatments before, or for those who have more resistance in responding to phototherapy treatments. What made a difference in the outcomes, especially with white hair and intractable vitiligo, is following up the first treatment with the second treatment directly, and this method gave promising results. The treatment can only be used as a topical treatment while avoiding exposure to the sun. Some patients find improvement with the first treatment without the second, and some with the second treatment without the first. Some responded differently with the two treatments, therefore, the two treatments were mixed as a topical treatment while also avoiding exposure to the sun.

The difference in response to the treatment is due to the different causes of vitiligo among patients. Whoever responds to the first treatment is likely to respond to immune regulators, and whoever responds to the second treatment is likely due to the fact that the components of the second treatment restore the required balance. These different treatments are first tried on the same patient by dividing the treated area, and trying the treatments on each part, and studying the results. The doctor can then determine the treatment plan based on the response, or whether using more than one treatment is required. This assists the doctor in specifying the treatment method and identifying the need of each patient based on their response.

In conclusion, Dr. Salman Al-Sabah emphasized the role of Kuwait University in supporting scientific research and researchers, and organizing scientific events such as the Scientific Poster Day event which will be held in March of 2022, which will include the participation of researchers from all faculties at Kuwait University along with researchers from Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. The Executive Director of Vitiligo Research Foundation Mr. Yan Valle took the opportunity to express his support and interest in the event, thanking everyone for their dedicated efforts.