Reduction of Blister Formation Time in Suction Blister Epidermal Grafting in Vitiligo Patients Using a Household Hair Dryer

BACKGROUND Suction blister epidermal grafting (SBEG) is a simple and effective way of surgical repigmentation in vitiligo. The major problem faced is the time taken for the formation of blisters. Temperature at the suction site is one of the factors affecting the blister formation time. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To reduce the blister formation time in SBEG by increasing the surface temperature to 44°C. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a left-right comparison study. Total seven patients with lip vitiligo involving both the angles of lips were enrolled. Suction syringes were applied on both the thighs of all the patients. On the right thigh, blisters were raised as per the procedure standardised by Gupta et al. On the left thigh, similar procedure was used, but a hair dryer was used additionally to increase the surface temperature of the skin to 44°C. The time taken for the formation of well-formed, dome-shaped, unilocular blister was noted. RESULTS The mean time taken for the formation of blister on the right thigh was 121.1 ± 6.2 min and on the left thigh was 69.6 ± 5.4 min. All the seven patients were started on PUVASOL after SBEG. There was complete repigmentation of the grafted sites in all the patients after 2 months. CONCLUSION Hair dryer is easily available, affordable and simple to use and the time saved during the procedure is quite significant.