Concierge dermatology · London
Vitiligo treatment, private in London.
Consultant-led vitiligo care in London: topical tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, MHRA-approved ruxolitinib (Opzelura), narrowband UVB, excimer laser, oral JAK inhibitors and, where stable, surgical repigmentation.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A named consultant dermatologist
A named UK consultant assesses and treats you, not a delegated junior. Pigmentary-clinic experience, no upsell.
- 02
Written plan, honest numbers
We come back within one working day with a firm quote across two or three consultant options and a written pathway.
- 03
Independent, and free to you
We are paid by no clinic. The recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
What vitiligo is
An autoimmune loss of pigment, not a cosmetic quirk.
Vitiligo is autoimmune destruction of melanocytes, producing depigmented patches. It affects around one percent of people worldwide, at any age and any skin tone.
Non-segmental vitiligo
The most common pattern. Symmetrical patches, often on the face, hands and around body openings, that can spread over years.
Segmental vitiligo
A single unilateral patch, usually appearing in childhood or young adulthood, that stabilises within twelve months and does not typically spread further.
Focal and mucosal
Isolated patches that have not yet declared themselves, or patches confined to the lips and genitalia. Treatment choices differ by site.
Vitiligo is associated with other autoimmune disease, particularly autoimmune thyroid disease, alopecia areata, pernicious anaemia and type 1 diabetes. A proper first assessment screens for these.
Assessment
A proper first appointment, not a five-minute glance.
The first hour with a consultant dermatologist should map every patch, quantify severity and screen for the autoimmune conditions vitiligo travels with.
Full skin examination
Head to toe in good light, with photography for a baseline you can compare against at follow-up.
Wood’s lamp examination
Ultraviolet light picks up subclinical patches and confirms the diagnosis, particularly on paler skin.
VASI scoring
The Vitiligo Area Scoring Index gives a repeatable number to track response to treatment over time.
Thyroid function bloods
TSH, free T4 and thyroid antibodies, because autoimmune thyroid disease is the commonest coexisting problem.
Autoimmune screen
ANA, full blood count, vitamin B12 and, where relevant, coeliac and diabetes screening.
Impact and expectations
An honest conversation about what treatment can achieve, over what timescale, and what it will cost.
Indicative pricing
What private vitiligo treatment costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our vetted UK network. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three consultant options.
In short
Consultant assessment £250–£450, topicals from £30/month, ruxolitinib from £1,800/month.
| Option | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultant dermatology assessment | £250–£450 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Topical tacrolimus or pimecrolimus | £30–£80/month | - | Ongoing |
| Ruxolitinib (Opzelura) cream, private | £1,800–£2,600/month | - | Ongoing |
| Narrowband UVB course (30–50 sessions) | £900–£1,800 | 2–3×/week | 6–12 months |
| Excimer laser 308 nm (per session) | £150–£280 | 10–20 min | Same visit |
| Oral JAK inhibitor, specialist-initiated | £1,500–£2,400/month | - | Ongoing |
| Melanocyte–keratinocyte transplant (per treatment) | £3,500–£6,500 | Day case | 3–6 month recovery |
Prices vary by clinic, by the consultant’s seniority and by whether treatments are combined. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The journey
From enquiry to review, what happens, in order.
One team from first message through consultation, treatment and follow-up.
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Sites affected, spread, any thyroid or autoimmune history, and what you want the outcome to be.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether topical, phototherapy, oral or surgical care fits best, a matched consultant and an indicative price.
- 03
Before
Consultant assessment
A proper hour with a consultant dermatologist. Wood’s lamp examination, VASI scoring, autoimmune bloods discussed and expectations set honestly.
- 04
Before
Consent and pre-care
Written consent, pre-treatment instructions, medication review and any tests, such as thyroid function and ANA, arranged in advance.
- 05
On the day
The treatment itself
Topicals dispensed, phototherapy started in a CQC-regulated cabinet, excimer laser delivered, or surgical grafting performed by the named consultant.
- 06
On the day
Immediate aftercare
Written and messaged aftercare, sun protection instructions and a same-day contact number if a treated patch reacts unexpectedly.
- 07
After
Structured follow-up
Review at three, six and twelve months with photography and repeat VASI, so repigmentation is measured rather than guessed at.
Who it suits
When private vitiligo care is worth it.
The patients who benefit most, and the honest reasons we sometimes decline to treat.
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Non-segmental vitiligo, still active
New or spreading patches, or existing patches with unstable edges. Early treatment protects more melanocytes.
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Segmental vitiligo, stable
A unilateral patch that has not changed for at least a year. This group often responds well to grafting.
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Focal patches on the face
Facial and neck patches respond fastest to topicals, ruxolitinib and narrowband UVB, in that order.
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You have an autoimmune history
Thyroid disease, alopecia areata or type 1 diabetes alongside vitiligo. We test and treat both sides.
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Willing to attend phototherapy
UVB works when the schedule is kept. Two to three visits weekly for months is a real commitment.
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Camouflage alongside medical care
You want a proper medical plan and something practical for the interim, not just concealer or bleaching.
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A named consultant, not a rotating list
The person who assesses you should be the person who treats you and reviews you afterwards.
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Red flag: seeking depigmentation of remaining skin
Total depigmentation with monobenzone is irreversible and specialist-only. We route this decision very carefully.
Options
Topicals, ruxolitinib, UVB, laser, oral, surgery.
Each treatment adds something the last one cannot. A good consultant layers them.
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Topical first-line
Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment twice daily for face and flexures, off-label but standard. Pimecrolimus 1% for gentler sites. A potent topical steroid, cycled to avoid atrophy, on the trunk and limbs.
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Ruxolitinib (Opzelura)
Topical JAK1/2 inhibitor, MHRA and CE-marked for non-segmental vitiligo from age 12. TRuE-V trials showed roughly half of patients reached F-VASI75 on the face by 24 weeks. Private only for now.
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Narrowband UVB
The workhorse. 311 nm narrowband UVB, two to three times weekly for six to twenty-four months. Whole-body cabinet or a home unit. Combines well with topicals and ruxolitinib.
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Excimer laser 308 nm
Targeted UVB for focal patches. Useful when only a few areas are involved or as a top-up to cabinet UVB on stubborn sites.
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Oral JAK inhibitors
Upadacitinib and ritlecitinib have emerging evidence in extensive, active vitiligo. Currently off-label and private, and needs consultant-led monitoring.
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Surgical repigmentation
Melanocyte–keratinocyte transplantation, minigrafting and blister grafting for stable segmental vitiligo or refractory stable patches that will not repigment medically.
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Sun protection and camouflage
Daily SPF 50+ protects both the patches and the contrast around them. Medical camouflage and self-tan help the day-to-day while the medical plan works.
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When to escalate or refer
Rapidly progressive vitiligo, extensive body-surface involvement or coexisting autoimmune disease can need combined dermatology and endocrinology care. We arrange it.
Realistic expectations
What repigmentation actually looks like.
Vitiligo does not turn around in weeks. Setting expectations properly is half of good care.
Six to twenty-four months
Typical timeframe to see meaningful repigmentation with topicals, UVB or ruxolitinib. Give a full protocol before judging it a failure.
Face and trunk respond best
Hands, feet and bony prominences respond least well. Some acral patches never repigment fully.
Sun protection matters
SPF 50+ protects patches from burning and reduces contrast with the surrounding skin.
Maintenance prevents relapse
Twice-weekly tacrolimus, or a maintenance UVB frequency, keeps repigmented skin repigmented.
Where treatment is delivered
London clinics we route patients to.
A small panel of dermatology-led clinics and private phototherapy suites. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your goals.
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Cadogan Clinic, Chelsea
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Cranley Clinic of Dermatology, Harley Street
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London Dermatology Centre, Wimpole Street
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HCA The Wellington Hospital, dermatology
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Chelsea and Westminster Private Care
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King’s Private Pigmentary Clinic
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Private narrowband UVB phototherapy suites
Selection criteria
How we choose every consultant.
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UK-registered consultant dermatologists on the GMC Specialist Register, chosen by name, with pigmentary-clinic experience
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CQC-registered clinics and phototherapy suites with a written safety and dosimetry policy
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Genuine, licensed medicines including MHRA-approved topical ruxolitinib, no grey-market imports
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A same-day contact number and named nursing follow-up after every phototherapy course or procedure
Safety and monitoring
What to expect during and after treatment.
Consultant-led vitiligo care is generally low-risk. The things worth planning are candidacy, dose, and what happens if something is not right.
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A named UK consultant, in a CQC-regulated setting
The consultant who assessed you should be the consultant who prescribes and reviews. That alone removes most of the safety problems patients tell us about.
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Realistic outcomes, spelled out
Repigmentation is slow. Six to twenty-four months is typical, some patches never fully repigment, and hands and feet respond least well. We say all of this before you commit.
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Topical calcineurin inhibitor safety
Tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are well tolerated on the face and flexures. Transient burning is common, serious risks are rare. We monitor cumulative use.
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Phototherapy safety
Narrowband UVB has a strong long-term safety record when dosed by protocol. Cumulative dose is tracked and eyes and genitals are shielded on every session.
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Ruxolitinib and oral JAK safety
Topical ruxolitinib has a favourable local safety profile. Oral JAK inhibitors need blood pressure, lipids, bloods and shingles-risk review before and during treatment.
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A same-day contact number
Written aftercare plus a phone number that answers the same day. Early advice prevents a small phototherapy burn or reaction from becoming a bigger problem.
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Included follow-up
Follow-up at three, six and twelve months, with photography and VASI scoring, is booked before you leave, included in the pathway rather than billed separately.
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Contraindications matter
Pregnancy, photosensitising drugs, history of skin cancer, active infection and severe immunosuppression all change the plan. We ask, and we listen.
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Written record and second opinion
You leave with the record, the photographs and the plan, enough for another consultant to pick up if you ever want a second opinion.
Reading your treatment record
Your treatment record in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever pathway you chose, the record the clinic sends you keeps to the same shape.
- 01 Assessment
What was recommended and why
The consultant’s written note, including Wood’s lamp findings, VASI score, autoimmune screen results and the plan agreed with you.
- 02 Treatment
What was actually prescribed or done
The named treatment, strength, frequency and, for phototherapy, the starting dose and increment protocol. Keep this for future care.
- 03 Findings
What was measured
Baseline and follow-up VASI scores and standardised photographs, in plain English alongside the technical terms.
- 04 Plan
Follow-up, medication, warning signs
When to come back, what to do if a patch reacts, when to pause phototherapy and when to phone the same day.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Insurance cover for vitiligo varies by policy. Assessment and phototherapy may be covered, ruxolitinib and oral JAK inhibitors are usually self-pay. We check cover before you book.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about vitiligo treatment.
Quick answers on cure, spread, insurance, ruxolitinib, sun protection and camouflage.
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Is there a cure for vitiligo?
No, there is no permanent cure. Treatment can repigment patches significantly, and in some patients almost completely, but ongoing maintenance is usually needed to prevent relapse. Segmental vitiligo, once stable, can sometimes be treated definitively with surgical grafting.
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Will my vitiligo keep spreading?
Non-segmental vitiligo can be stable for years then flare. Segmental vitiligo usually declares itself within twelve months and then stops. Early treatment while the disease is active protects more melanocytes and gives the best long-term result.
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Is vitiligo treatment covered by private health insurance?
Consultant assessment and phototherapy are sometimes covered when documented as medical rather than cosmetic. Topical ruxolitinib and oral JAK inhibitors are usually self-pay because they are off-label in the UK or newly approved. We check your policy before you book.
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How do I get ruxolitinib (Opzelura) cream in the UK?
Topical ruxolitinib is MHRA-approved for non-segmental vitiligo from age 12 but is not yet routinely funded on the NHS. It is prescribed privately by consultant dermatologists, at around £1,800 to £2,600 per month. NICE assessment is in progress.
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Do I still need sun protection on depigmented patches?
Yes, and it matters more, not less. Patches have no melanin and burn quickly, and tanning the surrounding skin makes the contrast worse. Daily SPF 50+ and clothing cover both the patches and the skin around them.
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What about camouflage while the medical treatment works?
Medical camouflage and self-tan bridge the six to twenty-four months of medical care. The British Red Cross and specialist camouflage services teach application, and we can refer.
Ready to start
Match me to a consultant dermatologist for vitiligo.
One working day, one written recommendation, two or three consultant options with firm prices.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Keloid scar treatment
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Hypothyroidism
Often coexists with vitiligo
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