No White Lies: The Truth About Vitiligo with Dr. Seemal Desai

⚪ A white patch on the skin shouldn’t erase someone’s story—or their options.

Recorded live at the Science of Skin Summit, this episode of Derm-It Trotter! Don’t Swear About Skincare features host Dr. Shannon C. Trotter in conversation with Dr. Samal Desai, a board-certified dermatologist and vitiligo expert. Together they unpack what vitiligo truly is—an autoimmune disease, not a cosmetic concern or something contagious—and trace how far treatment has come.

✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:

How vitiligo develops and why repigmentation takes time.

The evolution from 1980s PUVA therapy to today’s FDA-approved ruxolitinib cream, modern phototherapy, and promising oral JAK inhibitors.

The next frontier: IL-15–targeting biologics that may change long-term control.

The link between vitiligo and autoimmune comorbidities such as thyroid disease and type 1 diabetes.

Practical care tips—sun protection, gentle skincare, and when to avoid aggressive procedures.

Why it’s never “too late” to start treatment and how to fight stigma and insurance barriers.

👨‍⚕️ About Dr. Samal Desai:
Dr. Desai is a board-certified dermatologist whose research and advocacy have helped modernize vitiligo care. He works closely with the Global Vitiligo Foundation to expand patient access and education worldwide.

📌 Whether you’re navigating new patches, supporting a loved one, or treating patients, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and hope—along with evidence-based guidance for the journey ahead.

🔔 Subscribe for more expert-led conversations on dermatology, skin conditions, and the science of healthy skin.⚪ A white patch on the skin shouldn’t erase someone’s story—or their options.

Recorded live at the Science of Skin Summit, this episode of Derm-It Trotter! Don’t Swear About Skincare features host Dr. Shannon C. Trotter in conversation with Dr. Samal Desai, a board-certified dermatologist and vitiligo expert. Together they unpack what vitiligo truly is—an autoimmune disease, not a cosmetic concern or something contagious—and trace how far treatment has come.

✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:

How vitiligo develops and why repigmentation takes time.

The evolution from 1980s PUVA therapy to today’s FDA-approved ruxolitinib cream, modern phototherapy, and promising oral JAK inhibitors.

The next frontier: IL-15–targeting biologics that may change long-term control.

The link between vitiligo and autoimmune comorbidities such as thyroid disease and type 1 diabetes.

Practical care tips—sun protection, gentle skincare, and when to avoid aggressive procedures.

Why it’s never “too late” to start treatment and how to fight stigma and insurance barriers.

👨‍⚕️ About Dr. Samal Desai:
Dr. Desai is a board-certified dermatologist whose research and advocacy have helped modernize vitiligo care. He works closely with the Global Vitiligo Foundation to expand patient access and education worldwide.

📌 Whether you’re navigating new patches, supporting a loved one, or treating patients, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and hope—along with evidence-based guidance for the journey ahead.

🔔 Subscribe for more expert-led conversations on dermatology, skin conditions, and the science of healthy skin.