This condition is characterised by irregular hypopigmented patches of skin.

The cause may be genetic , autoimmune,stress, trauma and enviornmental. It may start as a small lesion and gradually increase, decrease or remain static.People seek help because it may be disfiguring,in certain societies it is a social stigma,it may have psychological and depressive effects on the patient.

Besides treating the underlying disease, th treatments offered can range from steroid creams to ultra violet light , Psoralen, narrow band UVB lightsProtopic and Elidel creams.

I together with my colleagues have successfully treated patients with melanocyte transfer.We take a skin graft from which melanocyes are seperated in the lab. At a second stage on the same day, the affected area is dermabraded and the concentrate melanocyte solution is placed on it .

Local anaesthesia with sedation or a short general anaesthesia.

Usually 24 hours

Infection, shifting of the dressing , inadequate harvesting of the melanocytes can occur.

Great care has to be taken of the dressing at the affected site. Infection is to be prevented by adequate antbiotics. Exposure to ultra violet light is recommended after the proedure.

Most case show a marked improvement in case of melanocyte transfer especially if the patches are not increasing .pain at the site of skin graft for a couple of days and the acceptance of a blemish at the site of the skin graft ahs to be explained to the patient.

The most effetive treatment is the melanocyte transfer if the selection of cases is prudent .

70-80% of of patients have gratifying results