Vitiligo is a long-term medical condition in which skin pigmentation lost and patches appear on white skin color. It happens when the melanocytes within the skin die off. It can affect people of any age, gender or ethnic group. It’s a photosensitive condition to affected areas that are more sensitive to sunlight than other areas of the body. If you face Vitiligo, whether it’s in the early stage or for years, it is necessary to know the treatment options for Vitiligo.
Few Best Vitiligo Treatments
Prescribed Creams and Ointments
The creams and ointments are powerful anti-inflammatories; some of them are corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors. These creams help in reducing inflammation, which gradually decreases the spreading pigmentation loss. If treatment is started early then, the skin can regain its natural tone.
However, these topical treatments can take several months for recovery. In addition, this treatment is not ideal to be used on the skin of children and older adults; their skin is sensitive and thin.
If you have Vitiligo widely spread, then you can use Corticosteroids; it’s effective. Calcineurin inhibitors are best to be used in areas of smaller pigmentation loss. However, there are few side effects of these topical treatments, which includes:
- skin cancer
- discoloration
- thinning of skin
Phototherapy With UVA Light
This is light-based; in it, the affected areas are exposed to UV rays in a controlled way to correct discoloration. There is also a Combo treatment which is known as PUVA, in which the UVA light therapy is combined with Psoralen, which is a plant-based medication. It can be applied topically to smaller affected areas of skin or could be taken orally. This treatment is continued up to three times a week for six months to show complete results. The PUVA is extremely effective to treat the vitiligo patches of arms, hands, legs, neck and trunk.
Depigmenting
When the patient has 50% or more patches on the body, this process can be used. In Depigmentation, the colour of the skin is lightened for matching patches of colour loss. These treatment options for Vitiligo are an option after other methods for improving your symptoms. This vitiligo treatment takes about nine or more months to work completely.
In this process, you will have to apply depigmenting agent prescribed on the unaffected areas of your skin only once or twice per day. When you take this treatment, it reduces the blotchy skin look, but you tend to lose your natural skin tone, which may affect you emotionally. In addition, there can be some redness, swelling and sun sensitivity because of this treatment.
Laser Treatment
How to cure Vitiligo with laser treatment? In this treatment, the high powered beams are used to remove the outer layers of skin by evening out patches of lighter-than-normal skin. The Laser treatment is painful, and you can see the treatments work after several weeks of application.
Skin grafting As Patchwork
It’s not a common treatment, and your doctor recommends it if your Vitiligo is severe. In this procedure, a doctor carefully removes healthy patches of pigmented skin and use them to cover affected areas
Blister Grafting
It is the same as skin grafting to even out your skin tone, where transplanting is done in small portions. In this procedure, the surgeon uses a suction device to make blisters on affected areas of the skin. Then depigmented areas are filled with these blisters to even out tone with your skin colour.
Skin Caouflage
When you suffer from mild Vitiligo, skin can be camouflaged with coloured cosmetics, creams and makeup. While using makeup, select the right tones and apply them correctly. Use waterproof and long-lasting products for best results.
Read related- How to Prevent Vitiligo?
How To Successfully Treat Your Vitiligo Using Ginkgo Biloba?
Ginkgo Biloba is a herbal treatment that is known for having anti-inflammatory effects and used for treating circulatory issues. This has also shown great results to treat Vitiligo and help them regain color.
What Treatments Are Available For Vitiligo Along Side These Treatments?
There are many medical treatments available that may or may not work for everyone. However, you can try natural options, which are lifestyle changes and taking a certain supplement. Your doctor can make few recommendations to follow during the early stage of Vitiligo and change in the lifestyle:
- It reduced sun exposure.
- Using sunscreens of more than SPF 30.
- Light therapies used along with Vitamin C, folic acid and other micronutrient supplements.
Key Takeaway
Although there is no definite cure for Vitiligo, various treatment options for Vitiligo can help in reducing the course of the disease. In addition, there are ways by following which you can cover up uneven patches to feel more confident.
The downside of the above vitiligo treatment is that the new depigmented patches might still occur. Consult Meddo dermatologists to determine the best treatment options for Vitiligo that works for you.
