What is the Vitiligo?
White patches or pigmentation over the skin are a symptom of vitiligo, a skin condition caused by the death of melanocytes, the cells in the skin that produce color. Even though there is not an perfect treatment for vitiligo yet, there are a number of treatments that can help control symptoms while improving the look of the diagnosed areas. These are a few typical vitiligo treatment methods:
Types of Vitiligo
According to a range of factors, including the number of affected areas, the pattern of depigmentation, and medical characteristics, vitiligo can be categorized into multiple groups. These are a few common types of vitiligo:
1. Non-segmental Vitiligo (NSV)
- The most common type is non-segmental vitiligo, which is also referred to as generalized or bilateral vitiligo.
- It generally appears in the form of depigmented patches on both sides of the body, usually affecting the hands, feet, arms, and face areas that acquire more sunlight is compared to other parts of the body.
- Over the years, the NSV might develop slowly, with new patches appearing and older patches becoming larger.
2. Segmental Vitiligo
- Areas of depigmentation that affect only one side or body part is characteristic of segmental vitiligo.
- Early appearance and quick development are characteristic symptoms of this kind of vitiligo, which commonly fixes after some time.
- A condition that affects the brain may be linked to segmentation vitiligo, which is more common than non-segmental vitiligo.
3. Mixed Vitiligo
- When someone has both segmentation and non-segmental vitiligo, they are considered to be affected by mixed vitiligo.
- In addition to the localised areas impacting certain body segments, those who have mixed vitiligo can experience depigmented patches on both sides of the body.
4. Acrofacial Vitiligo
- Acrofacial vitiligo mainly affects the face, including the areas surrounding the mouth, nose, and eyes, as well as the ends of the fingers (hands and feet).
- In the fingers, toes, and periorificial areas, this type of dermatitis may show in the form of depigmented patches.
5. Mucosal Vitiligo
- These mucous membranes, which are found on the lips, mouth cavity, sexual organs, and perianal area, are appear lighter in color when a person gets mucosal vitiligo.
- Mucosal vitiligo may appear in the independently or combined with dermatological vitiligo.
5. Universal Vitiligo
- A strong variant of the disease called universal vitiligo is marked by extensive depigmentation that affects a significant portion of the body surface.
- This kind of vitiligo can be difficult to manage while having a major detrimental impact on the person quality of life.
Causes of Vitiligo
A skin condition called vitiligo causes white, pigmentless areas of skin. We know a combination of elements are involved, even though the exact cause is unidentified:
How Dermatology Treat's in Vitiligo Treatment?
Dermatologists treat vitiligo using a number of methods with the goal of transforming the skin look and repigmenting the depigmented areas. Dermatologists usually handle vitiligo as follows:
1. Observation and Treatment
- Dermatologists start with analyzing each patient vitiligo health issues, including its level of difficulty, dispersion and extent. To confirm the cause of illness and choose the best plan of actions, doctors can use procedures like skin biopsy specimens, Wood’s lamp examinations and analyses of medical records.
2. Topical Medications
- With the goal to assist decrease inflammation while promoting repigmentation in vitiligo affected regions, topical steroid solutions and inhibited calcineurin are used frequently.
- The position and severity of the depigmented patches can affect the formulations as well as treatment plans that dermatologists recommend.
3. Phototherapy
- Phototherapy, such as PUVA (psoralen plus ultraviolet A) therapy or narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) therapy, is frequently used by dermatologists to increase pigment cells activity while promoting pigmentation regrowth
4. Excimer Laser Therapy
- Excimer laser treatment stimulates melanocyte formation and encourages repigmentation by applying focused UVB radiation to depigmented areas.
- Dermatologists may modify treatment settings based on the size, location, and reaction of the afflicted regions when using excimer laser therapy for localized vitiligo patches.
5. Surgical Treatments
- Dermatologists may be thinking about surgical procedures such punch grafting, suction blister grafting, or melanocyte transplantation in situations of stable vitiligo that have not responded to conventional treatments.
- With the goal to encourage repigmentation and enhance the skin’s natural look, these treatments involve transferring melanocytes from untouched parts of the body to the depigmented regions.
6. Depigmentation Therapy
- Dermatologists that treat patients with broad or major vitiligo that they believe cannot be suitable candidates for repigmentation treatments it can be suggest depigmentation therapy.
Dermatologists regularly assess the patient performance during treatment, making necessary changes to therapies and offering continued support and assistance to maximize results.