Vietnamese dermatologist shares vitiligo treatment approach at AMSC Malaysia 2026

September 17, 2026 - 15:00
Dr Nguyễn Phương Thảo of Pensilia Healthcare System joined the “Manage Pigmentary Disorders in Asian Skin” session in Kuala Lumpur, sharing a multimodal approach to vitiligo treatment that focuses on the skin microenvironment.
MSc, Specialist Level II Doctor Nguyễn Phương Thảo participates in the AMSC 2026 International Dermatology Conference in Malaysia

Vietnamese dermatologist Dr Nguyễn Phương Thảo of Pensilia Healthcare System presented at AMSC Malaysia 2026, an international conference on aesthetic medicine, dermatology and surgery, held on August 13-14 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Her presentation, titled “Treating Vitiligo through Skin Microenvironment Modulation”, was delivered during the “Manage Pigmentary Disorders in Asian Skin” session on August 14 at Conference Hall 1. The session featured speakers from Singapore, Japan, the Philippines and Việt Nam discussing pigmentary disorders relevant to Asian skin types.

According to her AMSC speaker profile, Dr Thao is a dermatologist and aesthetic medicine specialist with more than 16 years of clinical experience. She is Clinical Director of Pensilia Healthcare System in Hồ Chí Minh City and has professional interests in laser technologies, regenerative medicine, biological rejuvenation, and the management of pigmentation, acne, scarring and skin laxity.

Vitiligo – a chronic skin condition that causes certain areas of the skin to lose pigment

In her presentation, Dr Thảo discussed vitiligo as more than a loss of skin pigment. The condition is associated with autoimmune activity, oxidative stress and depletion of melanocyte reservoirs, which can make repigmentation difficult, particularly in treatment-resistant areas such as the hands, feet, elbows and knees.

The presentation’s central message was that stimulating melanocytes alone may not be sufficient in difficult cases. Dr Thảo proposed a three-part treatment approach involving immune modulation, melanocyte stimulation and reconstruction of the skin microenvironment.

In this approach, 308-nm excimer therapy remains an important option for repigmentation, while other treatments, including topical immune-modulating agents, fractional CO2 laser, radiofrequency microneedling, dermaroller techniques, platelet-rich plasma and melanocyte grafting, may be considered depending on disease stage, lesion location and clinical assessment.

The presentation also reviewed evidence on combination laser therapies. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses cited in the presentation suggest that combining excimer-based light therapy with other medical or energy-based treatments may improve repigmentation in selected patients compared with monotherapy. However, larger multicentre trials, longer follow-up and more standardised treatment protocols are still needed.

Dr Thảo also shared clinical cases from Pensilia in which 308-nm excimer therapy was combined with fractional CO2 laser and radiofrequency microneedling over multiple sessions. The cases illustrated how dermatologists may tailor treatment plans to individual patients rather than applying a single approach to all vitiligo lesions.

AMSC Malaysia describes its 2026 edition as a doctor-led event focused on practical knowledge, international learning and professional exchange in aesthetic medicine and surgery. The organisers said the conference aimed to connect experts, technologies and clinical perspectives from across Asia and beyond.


For Việt Nam’s dermatology and aesthetic medicine community, Dr Thảo’s participation in AMSC Malaysia 2026 reflects the growing involvement of Vietnamese specialists in regional scientific forums. Her presentation contributed Vietnamese clinical experience to discussions on personalised care, evidence-based technologies and long-term treatment strategies for pigmentary disorders.

Pensilia Dermatology Clinic System

Pensilia Nguyễn Đình Chiểu: 413–415 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu Street, Bàn Cờ Ward, HCM City

Pensilia Vũng Tàu: 551 Trương Công Định Street, Tam Thắng Ward, HCM City

Pensilia Biên Hoà: 1096 Phạm Văn Thuận, Tam Hiệp Ward, Đồng Nai City

Hotline: 0938 777 885

Website: pensilia.com

Opening hours: 9:00 am–8:30 pm

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