Vitiligo is a kind of medical condition which results in causing skin pigmentation loss. One of the most common reasons for vitiligo is when melanocytes or the cells which help create skin pigment get destroyed which further results in creating patches of white skin on the body. In case you are in the beginning stages of your skin is appearing had while in color, you must start considering the best treatment options that help in treating vitiligo.
Some of the creams that are helpful to treat vitiligo
There are many creams available to treat vitiligo but that will be given to you in case your doctor has prescribed the same. These are various creams that are available are considered as powerful anti-inflammatories and they help treat vitiligo. In case there is decreasing inflammation then it will further lower spreading pigmentation loss and in some situations, your skin will return to its natural color, too.
In some cases, it takes months for treatments to treat vitiligo. Corticosteroids are the best for treating vitiligo especially in case it has spread to other parts as well while Calcineurin inhibitors are helpful in case limited areas of pigmentation have been a loss. Though these creams and ointments have some kind of side effects as well which include:
- Increases the chances of cancer
- lines of discoloration
- thinning skin
Photochemotherapy
Light therapy or photochemotherapy include limited exposure to harmful UV rays that are used to correct the discoloration. In many of the cases, UVA light therapy is mixed with a medicine called psoralen that is obtained from the plants. This can be taken orally or it can be applied topically on the affected skin as well and the entire treatment is being referred to as PUVA. This combo treatment is much effective and this treatment is much helpful in case you are taking the treatment for the vitiligo on your skin including the areas:
- arms
- legs
- Head
- neck
- trunk
It is suggested that you repeat the entire PUVA treatments for a minimum three times a week for at least six months to see the positive results.
Skin lightening
Depigmentation is a different kind of method when your skin color has turned the light to match the patches of color loss. Doctors suggest this treatment only in case the losses of pigmentation are huge, and all the other ways have failed that otherwise can help in improving the symptoms. In this process, the patients have applied some mentioned depigmenting agent on the areas affected by the skin only. The main aim of doing this is to match these areas with the depigmented spots which have already appeared in case you have witnessed vitiligo. The patients having vitiligo need to apply this skin lightening cream at least one or two times in a day for up to eight to nine months. Though this process depigmentation helps reduce the look of blotchy skin, there are many emotional side effects as well which arise due to the loss of the natural skin color. There are higher chances that you might witness sun sensitivity, some kind of redness, and sometimes swelling as well while underlying this medical treatment.
Laser treatment is done to remove outer layers
Laser treatments are also referred by the doctors; under this kind of treatment high-powered beams are useful in removing the outer layers of the skin. This process is useful in treating vitiligo by evening out patches of lighter to normal skin. One of the drawbacks of this treatment is that it will result in some kind of pain and it takes several weeks to recover as well. This laser treatment will work best on hyperpigmentation as an antiaging treatment.
Skin grafting on smaller patches
In case of light therapy is not giving the desired results then your doctor might advise curing vitiligo with the help of skin grafting. This process includes removal of a smaller part of the skin from that area which doesn’t have vitiligo and it includes implanting it surgically on those areas where there is some pigmentation loss. This kind of treatment will work best in case there are smaller skin patches.
Though skin grafting will work to treat vitiligo, still it has many complications as well which can make it troubling for the patients. Many times the entire process results in a developing cobblestone-like pattern of discoloration while in some other cases; the affected patches are unable to regain pigment.
Micropigmentation process is done to implant new pigment
This is a kind of method of tattooing and under this kind of treatment; the patients who suffer from vitiligo are implanted new pigment into the areas that have blotchy skin. Though this process is effective, the patients undergoing this treatment will need to repeat the same process to maintain natural-looking color. One of the possible risks in this kind of procedure is that it might result in triggering more pigmentation losses.
Blister grafting is done to even tone
Similar to the grafting of the skin, blister grafting includes transplantation of small areas of the skin of the affected person. Under this kind of procedure, the doctor will use a device similar to the suction device to make blisters on the areas which are affected. These blisters will then be transplanted to depigmented areas so that it matches them with the rest of the skin color. This is yet another famous method grafting available that will help to even out your skin tone. Still, there are many side effects related to this which include:
- failure in regenerating color
- discoloration
- scarring
Sometimes cosmetics are used to cover up the patches
The growing popularity of cosmetics has made it easier to cover the redness, hyperpigmentation, and depigmentation as well. The tanners are available in the market which is one of the ways to conceal vitiligo patches and you can apply tinted primers, foundations, and powders as well on the affected area. You need to select that color that matches the natural skin ton, in case you select some darker color then your skin might look fake. The advantages of applying cosmetics to cover up the vitiligo will help enhance your self-image and the patients can apply these cosmetics easily before going out somewhere else. However, the downside of applying these cosmetics is that they work for some time only and won’t work in case it is raining or you are sweating a lot.
Ginkgo biloba- one kind of herbal treatment
One of the herbs which are used for vitiligo treatment is Ginkgo Biloba which is widely famous for its anti-inflammatory effects and is used as the best remedy for circulation issues. Though ginkgo Biloba is not ideally considered as the main vitiligo treatment, therefore you need to talk to your doctor in case you want to know more about it.
How supplements and lifestyle changes can help?
Though there is no particular treatment available that can work perfectly for all, as everyone is different and so their medical conditions are. Along with the different treatments, there are many natural treatments as well which you can consider to feel better. Also making some changes in the lifestyle can result in lowering the chances of worsening of vitiligo.
Refer to your doctor before considering the following ways to treat vitiligo:
- you can refer light therapy which is used in combination with vitamin C, folic acid, and other micronutrient supplements
- lower your sun exposure
- use sunscreen of least SPF 30 so that you can prevent your skin from tanning
There is no doubt to the fact that these natural treatments are not helpful, but the research advice that they are more effective if they are used at the early stages of vitiligo.
Lip treatments
In many cases, Vitiligo results in affecting the lips as well which is a very subtle area to do the treatment. There are many natural treatments that you can explore that will lower the effects of vitiligo. Also, you can lower the fading of uneven skin tone by applying lip balm on the affected area as it contains sunscreen and will give you some relief.
What diet can be taken for vitiligo prevention?
Though there is no particular prescribed diet that can be given to a patient suffering from vitiligo, still taking the best nutritional diet will help in lowering the effects. You can take a healthy diet full of good nutrients and start consuming lots of water. Besides some other food items that people suffering from vitiligo can include in their diet plan include:
- bananas
- apples
- green leafy vegetables
- chickpeas
- root vegetables like beets, radishes, etc are helpful
Conclusion
There are different treatments for vitiligo but they might not give 100% results; the treatments are useful in reducing the impact of the disease and they will also cover up the non-even patches which in turn will make you feel more self-confident while going out. Talk to your doctor so that he/she can determine which will the best treatment for you.
Sirisha B