Can it make me white again? A case report of 88% phenol as a depigmenting agent in vitiligo

Abstract

Vitiligo is the most common depigmenting disorder. However, therapies prove to be time-consuming, costly, or slow to show efficacy. Here, we present a case of a 74-year-old female with vitiligo who underwent full-body depigmentation treatment 50 years ago. Brown patches of repigmentation appeared on the patient’s face and arms and were eventually treated with 88% phenol. Patient was later switched to compounded 3% glutathione cream for a more sustained effect. Phenol was an accessible, economical, and easily administrable therapeutic option that can result in short-term depigmentation.