White patches on the skin, a disorder known as depigmentation (color loss), are a distinct sign of vitiligo. Leukoderma is another name for this chronic illness, which is not transmissible or life-threatening. It is more noticeable in people with darker skin tones, but it affects people of all ethnicities and skin tones. It affects approximately 1% of the population. It can affect the hair, eyes, genitalia, armpits, and interior of the mouth.
In this blog, we will discuss the treatment options available for vitiligo. To make the post informative, we have taken insights from Dr. Shikha Aggarwal, a well-known dermatologist offering the best vitiligo treatment in Ludhiana. Let’s find out about these effective treatments.
Treatment Options for Vitiligo
A skilled dermatologist can assist one in finding a treatment option to achieve a uniform skin tone by either repigmentation (removing leftover pigmentation from the skin) or depigmenting (restoring color). It can help those who have extensive vitiligo or their physical symptoms are affecting their mental well-being. Common vitiligo treatments include:
- Physical Therapy: Light therapy (NB-UVB) has a high response rate and can be used with oral or topical medicines.
- UVA Phototherapy: Psoralen and UVA (ultraviolet A) light therapy include administering a medication that increases the skin's sensitivity to UV light, then intensely exposing the skin to UVA light.
- UVB Phototherapy: Exposure to UVB (ultraviolet B) lights is the most common treatment for vitiligo. This process happens two or three times a week on average. UVB broadband and narrowband lamps can be utilized in this treatment for areas of the body when there are large areas covered with white patches.
- Surgical Procedures: An alternative for people with stable, restricted vitiligo can be surgery. In order to treat the damaged areas, pigment cells from the intact skin are transplanted using the patient's skin.
- Camouflage: The damaged areas can be concealed with the expert application of camouflaged professional makeup products.
- Depigmentation Therapy: Medication to lighten the surrounding skin tone (to decrease contrast) may be used if the vitiligo is particularly severe or if the afflected skin is not responding to earlier therapy. Topical medications might be applied to make the unaffected skin the same color. It could be a better option.
- Topical Medications A corticosteroid applied topically may be used in conjunction with another drug to enhance the outcome. In patients with darkly pigmented skin, corticosteroids are more successful in curing severe vitiligo.
Is Vitiligo Painful?
Vitiligo does not hurt. However, lighter skin patches affected by vitiligo might result in painful sunburns. It's imperative to protect oneself from the sun by wearing protective gear and sunscreen and staying out of the sun during peak hours.
Conclusion
Vitiligo arises when the skin cells that make melanin are destroyed. Additionally, this makes lighter patches on the skin and hair due to pigment removal. There are various treatment options available to reduce the patches caused by vitiligo.
If one is experiencing this condition, one can also consult Dr. Shikha Aggarwal, a well-known skin specialist in Ludhiana, at Bliss Laser Skin Clinic for more details. The qualified doctor specializes in FDA-approved procedures customized for each patient's skin type. To learn more about vitiligo, schedule an appointment with Dr. Shikha Aggarwal at Bliss Laser Skin Clinic right now.
