A team of researchers reported that a drug used to treat people with rheumatoid arthritis can also be used to treat vitiligo the discoloring skin condition.

Thursday, June 25, will be celebrated as World Vitiligo Day to raise awareness of the disfiguring skin condition. The disease is not common but it is devastating for those who suffer from it.

Yale University researchers said current treatments for vitiligo include only light therapy and steroid creams of which neither is all that effective.

The disorder not only has a strong impact on a person's self esteem, it can cause problems both in professional and social activities.

Researchers during the study came across that an existing class of medications already approved by FDA referred to has JAK inhibitors were effective when it came to treating hair loss that alopecia areata caused.

Therefore, the team claimed that JAK inhibitor tofacitinib or Xeljanz which has been approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis might help vitiligo as well.

Researchers during the study tested the theory on a vitiligo patient who is 53 years of age with noticeable white spots on her body, face and hands.

Researchers after ingesting the drug for 60 days found that a woman who was given the drug started experiencing improvement in pigmentation of the face, hands and arms.

Following another three months taking the medication, her white spots on her hands and face had nearly disappeared. No negative side-effects of the drug came across during the treatment.

The team is hoping that the treatment might perform well in others who suffer from the disease, but insisted more research would be needed first.

Michael Jackson, the late pop star, suffered from the disorder for most of his adult life.