Treatment of Vitiligo
Is vitiligo may be a sign of serious illness?
Malignant melanoma (a serious type of skin cancer) and vitiligo may develop simultaneously. However, most patients with vitiligo are not affected by this cancer.
Patients affected by vitiligo have a predisposition to develop any related diseases such as autoimmune Addison’s disease, thyroid problems, diabetes and alopecia areata (loss of scalp hair in patches). Many of these ailments can be diagnosed by blood tests or a simple physical examination.
What is the treatment to be followed?
Patients must use effective sunscreen to avoid burns in the affected areas of skin. There are several treatments the aim is to hide or camouflage the discoloration, or prevent progress. None of these are foolproof and all have their limitations.
Camouflage: depigmented areas are covered with stains or dyes topics. In the medical makeup can find useful tips and information.
Photochemotherapy, has frequently been used for vitiligo. This treatment combines a drug (psoralen) activated by a light bulb with ultraviolet A (UVA). The combination of UVA and psoralens, are known as PUVA. PUVA treatment is not totally effective and usually requires several sessions for months, assuming a strong commitment by the patient. Studies show that PUVA treatment offers only a slight improvement over placebo (dummy treatment).
Corticosteroids for vitiligo apply both topical (applied to the skin) and systemic (usually oral). Although there is no doubt that the degree of improvement is higher compared to placebo therapy, less than 50% of patients respond to this treatment.
Skin grafting: in patients with very dark skin, the graft pieces of pigmented skin from other parts of the body, can help or induce repigmentation of affected areas.
Depigmentation: very large depigmented areas can be applied in a cream substance, such as hydroquinone, which depigmented areas of skin are normal. Sometimes the best approach is for the patient.
What is the prognosis?
Vitiligo usually progresses slowly. Although spontaneous resolution is rare, partial remission is possible in the months that there is more exposure to the sun. The treatments are generally unsatisfactory. Various makeup products offer a cosmetic solution to the affected patients.