Autologous non-cultured melanocyte–keratinocyte transplantation procedure (MKTP) or NCES is one of the simplest cellular grafting techniques. The technique introduced into the dermatology arena since 1992, has seen various modifications and changes over the years, making it cost-effective and simple. However, in developing nations like ours, the procedure being a highly specialized and skilled one, still has found a limited popularity due to the cost involved. This talk aims to further simplify the technique and adapt it to a resource-poor set-up where cost is a deterrent and procuring expensive solvents and equipment may be a limiting factor. Also, there are several non-vitiligo causes of leucoderma including post-burn depigmentation, piebaldism, halo nevus, post-laser depigmentation, chemical leucoderma, post-discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) depigmentation, wherein medical modalities do not help and hence NCES could be a viable treatment option. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of NCES in these conditions as well.<br/>Additionally, certain tips and tricks that have been learnt over the 10 year experience of performing this procedure, will be discussed.

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Many “hidden gems” in dermatology involve pigmentary disorders. This lecture presents interesting pigmentary conditions that are not commonly seen in practice and could pose a challenge to diagnose. They involve both hypo- and hyper-pigmented conditions seen across three racial Asian groups: Chinese, Indian, & Malay. These cases have been collected over the past 20 years and will be presented in an interactive format to engage the audience.

Vitiligo remains a major challenge in dermatology, however, a number of patients can be treated with current treatments. While narrowband UVB phototherapy remains the cornerstone treatment, laser therapy offers advantages for localized vitiligo through targeted treatment. Additional therapeutic options include topical agents and systemic immunosuppressants. Although the treatment algorithm may appear simple due to limited options, outcomes vary significantly based on physician expertise.<br/>Successful vitiligo management requires comprehensive evaluation of disease activity, subtype, and prognostic factors to develop individualized treatment plans. The primary goal for active vitiligo is halting disease progression, while stable vitiligo treatment focuses on repigmentation. Treatment response varies by anatomical location, with facial areas generally showing better outcomes compared to hands, feet, and mucous membranes, which often demonstrate poor response even with prolonged treatment. <br/>For halting vitiligo progression, methotrexate and cyclosporine can serve as alternatives to oral corticosteroids. Recent advances in surgical interventions have expanded treatment options for cases refractory to conventional therapies. This review discusses personalized approaches to vitiligo care, emphasizing strategies to enhance outcomes in clinical practice.

Vitiligo is a common acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by skin depigmentation, associated with significantly reduced quality of life (QoL). Vitiligo is more noticeable in people with skin of color, which increases the psychosocial burden and leads them to seek for active treatment.<br/>Reduced QoL in patients with vitiligo was significantly associated with the involvement of visible body parts and a larger affected body surface area. A study on the patient’s actual concerns and feelings about the disease on the social media platform showed that patients and their parents were mostly concerned about the spreading of disease, prognosis, relationship with foods, and provocative factors. The highest willingness-to-pay for disease cure and control was observed in patients with vitiligo compared with other common chronic skin diseases. The employment and occupational impairment were also profound in patients with vitiligo. Recently, we also identified that patients with vitiligo involving non-exposed body sites were also going through significant impairment in quality of life.<br/>The impact of child vitiligo on their family members is not negligible. When vitiligo is diagnosed in children, parental stress is very high, resulting in actively seeking care and contacting health professionals. Uncertainty of disease progression and dedicating time for long-term frequent treatment affected parents’ daily lives, as well as work and social lives. In addition, many parents were suffering from emotional distress of guilt and embarrassment. <br/>Taken together, clinicians should be aware of various aspects of psychosocial burden in vitiligo and manage accordingly to improve patients and their family’s QoL. Providing a comprehensive health care consultation for vitiligo patients can reduce their psychological burden.