Vitamin C and E serums ease hyperpigmentation after laser treatment for vitiligo: study

Recent research shows that serums containing vitamins C, E, and ferulic acid alleviate hyperpigmentation after excimer laser treatment in patients with facial vitiligo.

A research team led by Dr. Bae Jung-min, director of Hill House Skin Clinic, and Professors Ju Hyun-jeong and Han Ju-hee from the Catholic University of Korea Department of Dermatology conducted the study, “Efficacy of Vitamin C, E, and Ferulic Acid Serum in Managing Post-Excimer Laser Hyperpigmentation in Facial Vitiligo Patients.”

The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) recently published the findings as an e-poster.

Vitiligo is a skin disorder where melanocytes are lost, causing patches of skin to turn white. It is relatively common, affecting about 1-2 percent of the global population regardless of race or gender.

This condition most often appears on exposed areas, such as the face and hands, though it can manifest anywhere. These visible changes often cause psychological distress and social difficulties. Because treatment is long-term and recurrence is frequent, consistent management is required.

A primary treatment method is ultraviolet therapy using excimer lasers, which aids pigment recovery. However, repeated UV exposure can also cause side effects, including hyperpigmentation.

The team assessed whether a vitamin C, E, and ferulic acid serum could reduce hyperpigmentation during excimer laser treatment in patients with vitiligo while maintaining efficacy.

In the study, patients with facial vitiligo who developed hyperpigmentation during excimer laser and topical tacrolimus 0.1% treatment were instructed to add twice-daily vitamin C, E, and ferulic acid serum to their regimen. Repigmentation and hyperpigmentation were monitored monthly with the VISIA imaging system.

The results showed all patients achieved F-VASI90 (90 percent or higher improvement in vitiligo areas) and experienced a significant reduction in hyperpigmentation, with high patient satisfaction. One patient experienced a recurrence of vitiligo during the three-month follow-up, but no direct association with the treatment was confirmed.

“This study shows that a serum with vitamins C, E, and ferulic acid may improve hyperpigmentation without reducing excimer laser efficacy,” Director Bae said. “As this is an early clinical study, larger future studies are needed to verify its use as a new adjunct for vitiligo management.”