Patients who suffer from a long-term skin condition could have access to additional treatment within a couple of years, thanks to the efforts of a Black Country Doctor.

Viktoria Eleftheriadou, Consultant Dermatologist at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), is leading the way in research and holds specialist clinics to help patients who are affected by vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a long-term condition where pale white patches develop on the skin. It is caused by the lack of melanin, which is the pigment in skin.

The condition can affect any area of skin, but it commonly happens on the face, neck and hands, and in skin creases. Top model Winnie Harlow has the condition and uses her profile to raise awareness.

Viktoria said: “The condition affects around one in 100 people in the UK. When I first started my studies there was a lack of treatment and awareness of the disease, however things are moving at a faster pace now.

“We currently have at least four medicines in the late phase of trials, supported by Walsall and Wolverhampton participants, which means in the next year or two we should have at least one or two more licensed medications to help treat patients.

“There is the potential of ten more treatments starting due to research trials in the future as well. The overall future for vitiligo treatment looks amazing.” 

In 2009 Viktoria started studying vitiligo, at the University of Birmingham, completing her PhD at the University of Nottingham. Having close friends who have the skin condition and seeing the physiological damage that it can cause meant that she had a real passion for understanding the condition. 

She is the UK Chief Investigator for five research trials currently taking place. 

She added: “There are several trials on eczema and on vitiligo. The trials are looking into the effectiveness of innovative drugs called JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitors (in cream and in tablet forms)  as well as observational studies (where we gather effectiveness of various drugs in real world, rather than in a clinical trial.

“I am really excited to see what this research leads to and how it can help our patients.”

Viktoria currently runs weekly adult clinics at RWT and children’s clinics twice a month at Walsall Healthcare, seeing patients from all over the UK.

Both Trusts run a service which allows patients to treat themselves from home, meaning that they don’t need to spend as much time in hospital receiving regular treatment.