When we launched vitiligo.ai back in 2023, the idea was simple: make reliable information about vitiligo available to anyone, anywhere, in any language. What could possibly go wrong, right?

Fast forward two years — turns out AI can sound smart, act caring, and still be utterly clueless. It imitates empathy but doesn’t actually care. It oozes confidence but often has no idea what it’s talking about.

In this episode, Yan Valle — professor, researcher, and the slightly obsessive nerd behind vitiligo.ai — shares what really happens when you try to teach a machine to teach medicine. The wins, the fails, and the very human mess in between.

You’ll hear:

• Why AI gets the facts right but the feelings wrong
• How “AI therapists” can cross lines no human ever should
• Why biased data quietly poisons good science
• And what dermatology looks like when algorithms start calling the shots

AI is brilliant at answering questions — just not always the right ones.

This episode is a reminder that intelligence is easy to fake. Humanity isn’t.

Here's the long read

This one’s long overdue — but too important to ignore.

On May 24, 2025, the World Health Organization finally looked up from its stack of pandemics and cholesterol charts and said, “Oh right — skin diseases exist.” They’re now officially a global public health priority.

Took only 2 billion people and a few decades of collective itching, burning, and patching to get there.

In this episode, we break down what this shiny new WHO resolution actually means — and what it absolutely doesn’t. Vitiligo didn’t make the guest list (unless you’re psoriasis, Buruli ulcer, or Mycetoma — congrats, I guess), but the door to real recognition just cracked open.

We’ll talk about:

• Why this resolution matters — even if it’s 90% PR and 10% progress
• How patient advocates quietly dragged skin health onto WHO’s radar
• What it’ll take to turn this bureaucratic “maybe” into something that actually helps people

It’s not the revolution — it’s the prelude.

But hey, after years of being ignored, even a polite nod from Geneva feels like a small win.

Here’s the original post

Vitiligo has always had a delivery problem. Creams can’t get past the skin’s outer “brick wall,” and systemic drugs hit the whole body.

Now, nanotechnology is changing that — turning microscopic carriers into smart delivery trucks that sneak medicine exactly where it’s needed.

In this episode:

• Why most creams fail to reach pigment cells
• How nano-formulations like liposomal khellin and ethosomal psoralens boost light therapy
• What’s coming next — topical JAK inhibitors, antioxidant particles, even gene-editing patches

Nanotech isn’t a cure, but it’s making current treatments sharper, safer, and more precise.

The future of vitiligo therapy might just fit on the head of a pin.

For more details, read Nanotechnology for Vitiligo in 2025 – Tiny Tools, Big Hopes

When vitiligo reaches the hands, it’s more than skin deep — it touches visibility, identity, and everyday life.

In this episode, we explore a breakthrough study from Osaka University that gives hand vitiligo its own classification system for the first time.

The research identifies four distinct subtypes — each with its own behavior, triggers, and treatment response — and ties them to what we’ve seen in previous VRF study, Rethinking Vitiligo: Five Distinct Faces of a Complex Disease.

We unpack what this means for patients and clinicians: why hands are so resistant to treatment, what mechanical stress and smoking have to do with pigment loss, and how this new classification could shape more personalized care in the future.

It’s a story about moving from vague advice to real strategy — and about giving patients what they’ve always needed most: clarity and options.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and every major platform.

For more details, check our long read on our website Defining the Landscape of Hand Vitiligo

Forget everything you thought you knew about vitiligo.

In this episode, we explore a groundbreaking new classification that shifts the focus from where vitiligo appears to how it behaves — offering doctors and patients a smarter, more predictive framework for care.

Ditch the old “segmental vs. non-segmental” divide. Meet five real-world phenotypes:

• Highly Active Vitiligo Patches that spread quickly, feel itchy, and often appear after an injury or impact to the skin. This type tends to grow faster and may require urgent treatment.
• Mild Vitiligo Small, steady patches that don’t change much over time. These are often easier to manage and may respond well to simple treatments.
• Extensive Vitiligo Patches cover a larger area and can be long-lasting. It’s common to see white or gray hair in affected areas, and this type can be tougher to treat.
• Koebner Type (Moderate–Severe) Patches appear in areas where the skin has been rubbed or irritated, similar to friction zones. Activity may be lower here, but the pattern follows where the skin has been touched or scratched.
• Koebner Type (Mild) Small, localized patches that stay put and are often easier to treat with creams or topical therapies.

We explore each type, how they’re treated, and why this matters for personalized medicine, clinical trials, and patient outcomes.

🔗 Read the full breakdown: Rethinking Vitiligo – Five Distinct Faces of a Complex Disease

That 2 p.m. crash isn’t just about carbs, boredom, or Netflix binges. A sweeping new study of 6,000 people shows your blood chemistry — the hormones, fats, and even last night’s cheese board — may be scripting your afternoon slump.

In this episode, we unpack the seven molecules linked to daytime sleepiness, from omega fatty acids that keep you sharp to tyramine (hello, wine and parmesan) that makes men especially groggy.

We’ll explore how stress hormones, diet, and even skin conditions like vitiligo tie into your energy levels — and why one in three adults worldwide wrestle with this “minor” problem that actually drives accidents, obesity, and poor health.

It’s a story of metabolism, not willpower. Think of it as your biochemical fingerprint for wakefulness — and a glimpse at a future where your doctor might prescribe walnuts, sushi, or morning light instead of a third espresso.

☕ Tune in for a science-meets-everyday-life deep dive that might change how you think about your post-lunch haze.

Read more:

• Why You’re Sleepy After Lunch (Hint: It’s Written in Your Blood)

What does vitiligo care really cost in America today? From dermatology consults and phototherapy sessions to prescription creams like Opzelura, the bills can pile up fast.

In this episode, we unpack the true 2025 price tag of vitiligo treatment in the U.S., how much insurance actually covers, and the out-of-pocket traps patients often face.

Plus: practical tips to stretch coverage, navigate copay programs, and avoid overpaying.

Because getting the right treatment shouldn’t mean emptying your wallet.

Full report: The Real Price Tag of Treating Vitiligo (2025 Edition)

Vitiligo care is finally breaking free from the old routine of steroids and phototherapy. Biologics like JAK inhibitors are driving impressive repigmentation in trials, while ruxolitinib cream made history as the first FDA-approved topical.

But the real headline is safety. A decade of FDA reports on tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, and ruxolitinib shows mostly mild, local side effects — yet a few rare surprises too, from tacrolimus-linked heart rhythm changes to ruxolitinib cases of anemia and pericarditis. None fatal, none disabling — but proof that “topical” doesn’t mean “risk-free,” especially with long-term or large-area use.

We also explore the essentials: how dosing shapes results, how quickly patients improve, and where these treatments are headed.

By 2026–2028, expect longer-lasting repigmentation, fewer steroids, and more personalized options. Until then: cautious optimism, careful reading of labels, and a close eye on what’s next.