RESEARCH FOR SKIN DISORDER SHOWS RESULTS

Internationally-renowned Clinical Dermatologist, Professor Karin Schallreuter, from the University's Department of Biomedical Sciences, recently travelled to the Dead Sea, in Jordan, with a group of patients suffering from the pigmentary disorder of the skin, Vitiligo.

Her research found that the special climate of the region and the Dead Sea water when used in combination with a specially developed cream, pseudocatalase PC-KUS, significantly enhanced the return of the lost skin colour.

The trip involved 92 patients from all over the world, all of whom showed varying degrees of the disease. After only 21 days in Jordan the recovery of the skin pigmentation was significantly faster using a combination of these treatments.

All patients had some signs of repigmentation regardless of skin colour and independent of the percentage of depigmented skin and the duration of the disease.

Professor Schallreuter explained the level of commitment necessary from her patients to achieve these results.

She said: "Typically the patients daily routine would involve an early start. Each patient would bath in the water of the Dead Sea for 15 minutes. After having a shower, to remove the salty waters, they would apply the cream and sunbathe for one hour. This whole routine was repeated in the late afternoon. After the treatments, they were free to enjoy the surroundings.

"The results using this combined treatment can be quite remarkable. "The patient illustrated has suffered from the disease for 16 years. When we started the treatment she had large white patches covering most of her face. By day 19 you can see that some repigmentation has occurred around her cheeks and eyes. By day 47 a significant proportion of her skin has been repigmented."

Professor Schallreuter is returning to Jordan in May, for six weeks, with a much larger group of patients which will, for the first time, include children.

She said: "This is a unique experience for the group. Patients can feel isolated and suffer a great deal of psychological damage, even if they just have one spot of Vitiligo. Bringing them together in a group and showing them the results we can achieve in such a small time, is a very rewarding experience."

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