About 0.5 percent of the population worldwide is affected by vitiligo, a skin disorder in which pigment is lost from the skin. The condition manifests as white patches of skin that may cover large portions of the body. It also runs in families and may be more severe in people with gray hair. It is also associated with autoimmune disorders and other illnesses. There are various treatments and lifestyle changes that can help reduce the severity of vitiligo.
Surgical options for vitiligo patients are available, but these are only effective if your condition is not caused by sun exposure. In such cases, a doctor may perform skin grafting, a process wherein healthy pigmented skin is transplanted to the affected area. However, this procedure is risky because it may cause infection and failure to re-pigment the skin. Another treatment involves the transplantation of melanocytes into the affected areas.
Phototherapy is an effective treatment for vitiligo. It helps slow down or stop the progression of the disease, and it is a cost-effective option for many people with the condition. Although phototherapy is an excellent treatment for vitiligo, it is not effective for everyone and may cause unwanted side effects. If you experience negative effects from a medicine, your doctor can adjust the dose or provide alternative options. A few doctors also combine light therapy with the use of psoralen, a substance that helps with the pigmentation loss. It is difficult to give this medication with UVA light, but it is a more efficient option.
There are surgical options for vitiligo, but these are only useful for patients with severe vitiligo or sun damage. A common procedure is skin grafting, which involves removing healthy pigmented skin and transplanting it into the affected area. While grafting can be a successful treatment, it also carries some risks. The risks involved include infection, scarring, and failure to re-pigment the affected area. A less risky method is melanocyte transplantation.
The signs and symptoms of vitiligo vary from person to person, but in most cases, a dermatologist will perform a biopsy in order to confirm the diagnosis. Generally, a patient with vitiligo will experience white patches on a specific part of their body. In some cases, the disease may even be accompanied by a white spot on their scalp. This can be a sign of another disease.
In some cases, vitiligo is a cosmetic issue that can be treated. There are many treatments available, and doctors are usually able to recommend one that will best treat the underlying cause of the condition. Some people with vitiligo may have a melanoma. Other types of vitiligo may be more sensitive to sunlight. This type of vitiligo is characterized by light spots that are distinctly different from the skin of other parts of the body.
Treatments for vitiligo include topical treatments that will restore pigment to the skin. It may take months for these treatments to work, so treatment is necessary. A corticosteroid cream may help to slow the progression of the condition. In some cases, a calcineurin inhibitor ointment may be applied to the affected area to treat the inflammation. Both medications affect the immune system and are usually used as a last resort.
Several types of vitiligo can occur in children. The most common is generalized vitiligo, which is characterized by many white patches on both sides of the body. In some cases, the disease can develop in one side only. Both types affect kids of all races. Those with darker skin may notice the spots more than those with light skin. Eventually, the condition may progress to a more serious state.
The condition is a serious affliction, affecting people of all ages. It can also be painful and can negatively impact a person’s self-esteem. As a result, many people who are affected by vitiligo often face stigma and social isolation. Fortunately, there are ways to combat stigmatization and make vitiligo more widely accepted. The symptomatic condition is not a disease, but a symptom of a more serious affliction.
Most cases of vitiligo begin as small white patches on the affected area, but they can spread to other areas of the body. Eventually, most of the skin is affected, but some people have a patchy appearance. It can be disabling if the affected person has dark skin. It affects around 0.5 percent of the population, but it is more prevalent in Asia and India. If it’s found in a person, the condition may be inherited.