Are there any known effects of acupuncture on vitiligo?

The acupuncture, derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine, is increasingly studied as a complementary approach in the treatment of certain dermatological conditions. It involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body, known as acupuncture points, located along the energy meridians. These points also correspond to neural, vascular or lymphatic pathways, as well as to bony or dermal areas, and are associated with specific therapeutic effects. By stimulating these sites, the acupuncturist seeks to restore the body’s energy balance, thereby supporting overall health. Recent research offers an overview of the potential benefits of this practice, as well as its limitations in the dermatological field.

During an acupuncture session, the needles may be left in place for 15 to 30 minutes. This method is used to address a variety of health conditions, such as chronic pain (back pain, joint pain, migraines...), digestive issues or sleep disorders, anxiety, etc. It should be noted that acupuncture is often used as an adjunct to other medical treatments.

The vitiligo is an autoimmune disease resulting in depigmentation of the skin following the loss of melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin. Several forms of vitiligo, the primary form being non-segmental, characterised by hypochromic macules that are bilateral and often symmetrical, and the segmental form, presenting with a unilateral distribution.

A study, published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine in 2023, assessed the efficacy of acupuncture combined with NB-UVB phototherapy in the treatment of stable non-segmental vitiligo. This study included eight patients presenting a total of 26 lesions. Conducted over 12 weeks, it compared one side of the body treated with acupuncture + NB-UVB with the opposite side receiving phototherapy alone. The results demonstrate that the VASI (Vitiligo Area Scoring Index) score decreased from 93.07 to 78.46 (a 16% reduction) in the acupuncture + NB-UVB group, indicating a significant improvement, whereas it remained virtually unchanged in the NB-UVB-only group, with a decrease of just 1.2% (score of 91.92). Moreover, patients in the former group reported moderate, tolerable pain, and adverse effects were confined to mild erythema and small bruises, with no severe complications.

According to the results, the combination of acupuncture and NB-UVB phototherapy could represent a promising approach to encourage repigmentation in the vitiligo stable, particularly in areas known to be resistant such as the extremities. However, this study does not show that acupuncture alone exerts a beneficial effect on vitiligo. It would therefore be necessary to conduct comparative trials, with and without acupuncture, to confirm the actual efficacy of this technique for this condition. Moreover, larger-scale studies with extended follow-up are needed to validate these findings.

The relevance of acupuncture for vitiligo remains theoretical until more extensive studies are conducted. If you suffer from vitiligo, it is important to consult a dermatologist so they can recommend a treatment tailored to your situation.

• Physiopathologie et mécanismes à l’origine du vitiligo. Vitiligo Bordeaux-Service de recherche clinique.

• BAE H. & al. Acupuncture and immune modulation. Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic & Clinical (2010).

• BOUKHEDOUNI N. Mécanismes immunologiques impliqués dans la perte des mélanocytes au cours du vitiligo. Médecine humaine et pathologie – Université de Bordeaux (2018).

• GUO D. & al. Acupuncture for vitiligo: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2023).

• HSU C.-H. & al. Surrounding needling and narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy treatment: Synergistic effects for repigmentation in chronic, stable nonsegmental vitiligo. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine (2023).