Dr. Vasquez discusses how distinguishing active from stable vitiligo can help guide treatment decisions, including the use of patient history, serial photography, and clinical signs of disease activity. She reviews how topical ruxolitinib targets JAK1/JAK2 signaling involved in vitiligo pathogenesis and highlights data demonstrating facial repigmentation in patients with both progressive and stable disease. Dr. Vasquez emphasizes that meaningful repigmentation can take time and that treatment response may vary by anatomic site and the presence of pigmented hair. She also explains that patients with longstanding stable vitiligo may still benefit from treatment, expanding therapeutic options for individuals who previously had limited choices.
Topics Covered:
- Identifying active vs stable vitiligo in clinical practice
- Efficacy of topical ruxolitinib across different levels of disease activity
- Treatment expectations, response timelines, and factors affecting repigmentation