TY - JOUR
KW - Clofazimine
KW - clofazimine-induced pigmentation
KW - skin discoloration
KW - leprosy treatment
KW - Barriers
KW - Therapeutics
AU - Utami NN
AU - Muchtar SV
AU - Krismawati H
AU - Patinggi AL
AU - Rahardjani M
AU - Mulyadi AN
AU - Hasvitasari DE
AU - Van Nuil JI
AU - Walker SL
AU - Soebono H
AU - Grijsen ML
AB - <jats:p>Since 1982, the WHO recommends multi-drug therapy (MDT) fconsisting of three antibiotic drugs, namely rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine. While MDT is effective, its adverse effects are underrecognized. Clofazimine causes near-universal skin discoloration, and is a key barrier to treatment acceptance and adherence because it visibly discloses leprosy. Using two compelling case studies in which MDT was declined or discontinued due to fears that clofazimine-induced dyspigmentation would reveal leprosy status and harm family reputation, we highlight the challenges posed by clofazimine and the limited availability of alternative treatment options in resource-constrained settings.</jats:p>
BT - Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
DA - 08/2026
DO - 10.1093/ced/llag349
LA - ENG
M3 - Article 
N2 - <jats:p>Since 1982, the WHO recommends multi-drug therapy (MDT) fconsisting of three antibiotic drugs, namely rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine. While MDT is effective, its adverse effects are underrecognized. Clofazimine causes near-universal skin discoloration, and is a key barrier to treatment acceptance and adherence because it visibly discloses leprosy. Using two compelling case studies in which MDT was declined or discontinued due to fears that clofazimine-induced dyspigmentation would reveal leprosy status and harm family reputation, we highlight the challenges posed by clofazimine and the limited availability of alternative treatment options in resource-constrained settings.</jats:p>
PB - Oxford University Press (OUP)
PY - 2026
SP - 1 
EP -  5
T2 - Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
TI - Fear of clofazimine-induced skin discoloration as a barrier to leprosy treatment: urgent need for alternative therapeutic options
UR - https://academic.oup.com/ced/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/ced/llag349/70476194/llag349.pdf
SN - 0307-6938, 1365-2230
ER -