TOPICAL ANTIBIOTICS LIMIT DEPIGMENTATION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF VITILIGO

Antibiotic ointments were topically applied to vitiligo-prone, pmel-1 mice, evaluating the consequences of short-term antibiotic treatment on the kinetics of depigmentation. Bacitracin, Neosporin, or Vaseline were applied to one denuded flank, while the contralateral flank was treated with Vaseline in all mice. Ventral depigmentation was quantified weekly. We found that topical Neosporin treatment significantly reduced depigmentation and exhibited effects beyond the treated area, while Bacitracin ointment had no effect. Our study highlights the therapeutic potential of short-term antibiotic applications to limit depigmentation vitiligo.