Tens of thousands of people living with vitiligo affecting their face will be offered the first approved medicine on the NHS to restore lost skin colour.
The new cream, ruxolitinib, will be made available to nearly 100,000 people aged 12 and over with non‑segmental vitiligo, a form in which white patches typically appear symmetrically on both sides of the face and body. The treatment is applied twice daily to affected areas, with progress usually reviewed after about six months, and will be offered where standard steroid creams have not worked or are unsuitable, following a deal struck by the NHS.
Clinical trials showed the cream significantly improved facial re‑pigmentation versus placebo, with many patients experiencing at least a 75% return of skin colour in treated areas.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. About 1 in 100 people in the UK have vitiligo. It can affect any skin area but most commonly the face, neck and hands, and may appear or worsen after illness, stress or skin injury. While not usually physically painful, vitiligo can be emotionally distressing and especially affects confidence, identity and mental health when visible on the face. Changes in pigmentation can be particularly noticeable for people with darker skin tones.
Ruxolitinib works by calming the immune response that causes pigment loss, allowing tone to gradually return. Until now, treatment options were mainly cosmetic camouflage, short‑term steroid creams (which can thin or damage skin if used long term) and light therapy, which requires repeated hospital visits and may not give lasting results.
Professor Meghana Pandit, National Medical Director at NHS England, said: “For many people, vitiligo isn’t just a change in skin colour – it can affect how they see themselves and how they feel every day, particularly when it involves the face. We also know the condition can have a particularly significant impact on people with darker skin tones, where changes in pigmentation are more visible. For the first time, we now have an approved treatment available on the NHS that can significantly restore skin colour rather than simply covering the condition up. While it won’t be right for everyone, for some people this could make a profound difference to how they feel about themselves.”
The cream had previously been rejected for NHS use in August 2025, but after a rapid review and negotiations, NHS England secured a deal with manufacturer Incyte enabling approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Patient story: Callum Pickering, 41, from Ipswich, first noticed vitiligo at age 10 and says the condition spread across his body and face. “I’ve learned to live with it and accept it more. I’m confident talking about it, but that doesn’t mean I’m not self‑conscious. People double‑take. Some try not to look, others just stare. A treatment that really works and is available to everyone who wants it would make such a difference. Some people are happy to embrace it, and that’s great. But for me, if something could help, it would be life‑changing.”
Abigail Hurrell, CEO of The Vitiligo Society, said: “Today’s approval of ruxolitinib represents a historic milestone and the first time the NHS has recognised and funded a dedicated re‑pigmentation treatment. This decision acknowledges the significant psychological, social and medical impact of vitiligo and marks a fundamental shift towards the equitable care our community has long deserved.”
Like all medicines, ruxolitinib can cause side effects, most commonly mild local reactions such as redness or irritation at the application site.
