Various types of treatment are available for vitiligo, although in many cases treatment is difficult. People with fair skin may need to avoid the sun to prevent tanning. If the pigmented skin is not tanned, the affected areas are less noticeable.
Two types of cream exist that contain compounds that help regain pigment in the skin. Creams containing corticosteroid compounds can help regain pigment in small white patches where vitiligo occurs, although they may damage the skin and must be carefully prescribed. Other creams containing immunomodulator compounds help regain pigment in the white patches.
For people with a greater contrast between the affected and unaffected areas, the following options exist to help disguise or treat vitiligo:
- makeup
- depigmentation
- repigmentation
- grafting
Waterproof makeup is available in many different colours to match many different skin colours. This is a good choice to effectively cover affected white patches and is safe for everyone, including children.
Stains may be useful to dye the skin a colour that more closely matches the unaffected areas. Certain self-tanning products contain dihydroxyacetone, which produces a tan and does not require the melanocytes in the skin to produce melanin. The tan fades over time and must be repeated. Micropigmentation tattooing is useful for small white patches associated with vitiligo. This method also adds colour to the white patch.
With grafting, doctors transplant skin to the affected area(s) from another part of the body. However, despite the transplant, pigment does not always return to the vitiligo-affected area.
Psoralen treatment, also called psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA), uses a combination of a psoralen medication as well as exposure to UVA ultraviolet light. In this process, the person either takes psoralen orally (by mouth) or applies a cream containing psoralen to the skin before exposure to the ultraviolet light. Exposure to ultraviolet light causes a high sensitivity to light and increases the possibility of pigment returning to the affected areas. Many risks are associated with this type of treatment, due to the damaging effects of UVA light. Some of the side effects include:
- increased risk of skin cancer
- sunburn
- itching
- hyperpigmentation(dark spots on the skin)
If taking a psoralen medication orally, these additional side effects may occur:
- nausea
- damage to eyes due to light sensitivity
- abnormal hair growth
A dermatologist must closely supervise this treatment. It is not recommended for children.
Narrow-band UVB phototherapy uses UVB light to stimulate repigmentation of the affected areas of skin. An excimer laser may also be used to treat vitiligo in limited areas.
Chemical or laser depigmentation is a treatment in which a person may choose to remove the pigmentation from the unaffected skin areas to better match the affected areas. This is used in cases where vitiligo is extensive. The person uses a cream containing monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone to remove the remaining pigment. This process takes a long time to complete, sometimes a year or more. Removal of pigment is permanent.
Repigmentation, a treatment that aims to restore pigment in affected areas, is another treatment option for people with vitiligo. Choices for repigmentation include:
- dyes
- self-tanning products
- micropigmentation tattooing
- creams containing corticosteroid compounds
- creams containing immunomodulator compounds
- grafting
- phototherapy (psoralen photochemotherapy and narrow-band UVB phototherapy)
There is no cure for vitiligo. No methods prevent vitiligo, but using sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect your skin from the sun is always a healthy decision.
Emotional support is another important part of vitiligo therapy. The skin changes caused by vitiligo can affect people emotionally and socially. Joining a support group or seeing a counsellor can help people cope with these effects.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2021. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Vitiligo