Vitamin D Analog
Vitamin D analogs are used to treat vitiligo, a chronic skin disease. Vitiligo causes the pigment cells in your skin to die, resulting in white patches of depigmented skin. In some cases, people with vitiligo experience pain and burning from the loss of pigment cells.
The process involves stopping the production of melanin, the pigment your body produces to create its natural skin color. The treatments are typically used by people with vitiligo that doesn’t respond well to other therapies.
Clinical studies show calcitriol can help vitiligo. Calcitriol is a hormone produced from vitamin D. It regulates blood levels of calcium and phosphate and plays a role in the growth and division of cells. It may promote melanocyte production and the repigmentation of depigmented skin areas when applied topically. Studies also show that calcitriol is an effective treatment for alopecia areata.
