How Vitiligo is treated?
Vitiligo can not be cured completely but many different treatments can be helpful to decrease progression of Vitiligo.
You can choose not to treat vitiligo if white patch are on covered area of body, people are not much concerned because these are not noticed by other people. In the same way white patches are not a big problem for fair skinned people. They avoid tanning of skin, so that white patches are not clearly different each.
Vitiligo treatment options are :-
- Skin camouflage.
It is to cover the affected skin area.
- Treatment that reserve changes in skin.
- Treatment to de-pigment the skin completely.
- Protection of lot skin by use of sun blocker.
- Skin Camouflage
Colored cover creams are used on which skin patches of Vitiligo. These creams does not change the real color of skin but but improves skin appearance. If we chose this option first goal to choose the color cream, which should match skin color of patient. The creams can cover white patched, which greatly increase self confidence. There are organizations like British Red Cross, that provide free skin Camouflage service.
These are self tanning lotion available, which can hide Vitiligo. The disadvantage is that,the lotions are needed to be applied frequently and also exact skin color matches are not available.
1: Treatment that reverse changes in skin.
No single treatment available works well for Vitiligo. Some drugs slow down progression of Vitiligo, while other help to regain pigment and color same extant. Treatment is different on types of Vitiligo. There are a few treatment resoli.
2: Steroid Creams
These creams are used, when a small patch of Vitiligo develops. These are used for a short period ( 2-6 month). It can help to slow or stop progression. If disease skin color may return over treated area. Long term use of steroid is harmful because steroid side affects can occur, like thinning of skin and stretch marks. Steriods work by suppressing immune system.
3: Tacrolirium Cream
This is not first choice. This can be an alternative to steroids. Its efficiency is limited .it can help to regain skin color in a few patients especially on face. It also acts by suppression of immune system.
4: PUVA Treatment
PUVA is psoralen and ultra violet A. in this therapy a special medicine psoralen is taken ,
so the patient’s skin becomes sensitive to light. The skin is then treated ultra violet A,
from a special machine. This treatment is time consuming, it is needed twice a week for
6-12 months. PUVA can cause sun burn type reactions or skin Freckling. There are
chances of re-occurrence of white patches after PUVA treatment.