Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches. The color loss  can vary dramatically and is nearly unpredictable. The disease can affect any part of the body from inside your mouth to even your hair.

Normally, the color of hair and skin is determined by melanin when the cells  that produce melanin die or stop functioning. It results in the occurence of all skin types, its appearance is most noticeable  in people with a dark complexion the disease is  neither contagious. i: e it doesn’t get transferred from one person to the other not is it life – threatening. It can be stressed or make you feel bad about yourself.

Vitiligo  treatment is meant to restore color to the areas where it has been lost. However it does not prevent the color farm recurring.

Signs and symptoms

Vitiligo signs include :

  • The skin color losses in patches.
  • The hair on your scalp, eyelashes and eyebrows turn white or grey permanently.
  • Loss of color in  the tissues that line the inside of your mouth and nose.
  • Loss or change in color of the retina(inner layer of the  eyeball)

Causes

Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition that relates to loss of skin color  resulting in the development of the  white patches on the skin. It is considered an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the color producing cells(melanocytes) of our skin resulting in the formation of white patches, vitiligo can Occur on any part of the body including face truck, elbows, knees, hands and feet.

Treatment

Vitiligo is considered as “more than a cosmetic problem” as the patients with Vitiligo  suffer from psychological stress and social stigma. It is a health issue that needs medical attention. A number of treatments options are available for Vitiligo :

1)Topical Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids ointments and creams containing steroid. Some studies have concluded that  applying topical corticosteroids to the  white patches can stop the  spread and can restore the skin color.

2)Topical Immunomodulation
Topical Immunomodulation creams like tacrolimus or pimecrolimus can help in the restoration of skin color in vitiligo patches.

3)Phototherapy with UVB light
One of the most common options used in the treatment of vitiligo is exposure to ultraviolet B light. combines with other treatments. UVB phototherapy can have a positive effect on vitiligo. The results are variable the response on trunk and Face is faster and better than the actual area like hands and feets.

4) Phototherapy with UVA light
UVA treatment usually conducted in healthcare softing. In order to increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV lights, the patient is given a drug then in a series of treatments, the affected skin is exposed to high doses of UVA light. Program will be evident after 6 to 12 months of twice weekly sessions.

5) Skin Camouflage
In case the vitiligo is pretty mild the patient can cover it up or Camouflage it using makeup products and creams.

6)Excimer Laser
30s nm excimer laser works well in restarting the pigmentation of vitiligo  one session,  multiple session are required for good results

7) Surgical Treatment
Surgery is performed in patients with a stable disease when the disease does not any improvement with medical treatment and is stable for arround 6 -12 months

Depending upon the type of your skin, get a suitable sunscreen from the dermatologist . The use of sunscreen is essential to avoid burning of tha patches from sun rays. since the skin under the patches is pretty sensitive.