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August 25, 2003
Pseudocatalase Cream for Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a spontaneous irregular depigmentation of the skin. Patients with vitiligo have low catalase levels and high levels of hydrogen peroxide in their skin, and also have problems maintaining calcium balance in their skin. Pseudocatalase cream is an externally applied UVB-activated product containing calcium chloride, manganese chloride, and sodium bicarbonate, which functions like catalase by removing peroxides from vitiligo-affected skin and inhibits the progression of pigment loss in vitiligo. Melanocytes are still present in long-standing (> 25 years) depigmented skin of patients with vitiligo, and these melanocytes can recover their functionality upon the removal of hydrogen peroxide. This approach leads to recovery of the oxidative damage in the epidermis and remarkable repigmentation.

Thirty-three patients with the depigmentation disorder vitiligo were successfully treated with topically applied pseudocatalase cream, calcium and short-term UVB light exposure. Initial repigmentation occurred in the majority of cases after 2-4 months. Complete repigmentation on the face and dorsum of the hands appeared in 90% of the group. In all patients, active depigmentation was arrested. None of them developed new lesions during treatment. No recurrence of the disease was observed during a 2-year follow-up.
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Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 1999 May-Jun;12(3):132-8
J Pathol 2000 Aug;191(4):407-16
J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc 1999 Sep;4(1):91-6
Dermatology 1995;190(3):223-9

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