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Treatments for vitiligo

July 17th, 2010 john No comments

The primary aim of addressing the Vitiligo treatment is in reality to better up the visual aspect of the skin. Many a varied therapies as well as discourses are available for vitiligo, which in reality of things take almost one to two years for any effect to be had from them. The selection of a particular treatment for vitiligo depends upon mainly the size and then the time period of the disease. The response of different patient’s skin is different in every case under every treatment.

The treatments those are available here and now for Vitiligo or the Vitiligo treatment as we call it here, admits in discourses such as some of the Medical therapies alike of the Topical Steroid treatment which includes creams. These steroid creams are applied on the white patches for at the very least a time period of three to six months and then result in the form of repigmentation can be viewed.

The other one of the Vitiligo treatment include Psoralen photo-chemotherapy which is as well pretty famous as the psoralen or as well the PUVA therapy, the aim of this treatment is the same yet again and that is to recolor the skin. This is a chemical drug that interacts and the reacts with the ultraviolet light rays to darken up the skin tone. This is as well pretty overmuch time consuming too. Another variation of the same is the Topical psoralen photo-chemotherapy. This one is applied only when the white patches are still at their beginning as well as in many a younger children. Apart from that the way of application is pretty similar.

One more of the Vitiligo treatment, but this time for patients who have some sort of a severity within the disease of Vitiligo is the Oral psoralen photo chemotherapy. This is where you actually get the prescribed dose of the psoralen prior to being exposed to the Ultra violet rays.

For some of the people affected with the disease and somehow not being able to go to the medical facility for the PUVA treatment, the medical practitioner generally provides the required dosage of the Psoralen in a prescription form to have at home as a Vitiligo treatment.

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Vitiligo Phototherapy

April 22nd, 2010 john No comments

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People have been using ultraviolet (UV) light in the form of sunlight to treat vitiligo, eczema, psoriasis, etc from centuries, and most patients still find that their symptoms improve during the sunnier months of the year. But now times have changed and specially designed UV lamps are used for this purpose.

Narrowband UVB is increasingly being used in hospitals for the treatment of vitiligo and various other skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis. It uses specific wavelength of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, 311 to 312 nm, which tends to be more effective than using standard UVB light that contains many different wavelengths.

PUVA is a type of photochemotherapy (vitiligo treatment by means of drugs that react to ultraviolet radiations), which is often used to treat vitiligo. It is a combination of psoralen (a chemical that sensitizes the skin to light which is either taken orally or directly applied to the skin), and Ultra Violet (UVA) light type A.

All forms of UV therapies require a visit to a hospital several times a week. It is usually carried out in a day care dermatology clinic or physiotherapy departments. Initially the UV exposure time is kept short and is increased gradually. The amount of UV exposure received is carefully monitored and the total cumulative dose (expressed as Joules/cm2 skin surface) is recorded because large doses of UV time increases the risk of skin aging and skin cancer, the maximum safe limits for exposure to UV radiation at the hospital are not exceeded.

Most often patients buy a home phototherapy system to get rid of the hassle of traveling to the hospital. These home phototherapy systems provides convenient and better results but screening and education of candidates for home phototherapy is important to ensure compliance with the treatment program.

Before starting any kind of phototherapy you must seek a dermatologist because not everyone’s vitiligo is suitable for narrow-band UVB or other phototherapies. If the area affected by vitiligo is small then it may be appropriate to try topical treatments such as steroid creams (Note: steroids can be harmful if used for long term) in the first place. In case of very extensive vitiligo, treating whole body with creams becomes difficult and in this case narrowband UVB becomes an appropriate option. Light therapy may not be possible for other reasons, such as whether to treat a small child or someone with claustrophobia, which may not tolerate standing in the UV cabinet. Similarly, people who have a skin disease aggravated by light, or a history of excessive sun exposure or skin cancer cases would not be suitable candidates for this form of treatment.

It is not possible to predict the course of vitiligo treatment, whether it will work, and if so, how well. Some areas, particularly the hands and feet are difficult to treat. Generally, treatment is continued for 2-3 months in the first place and if no repigmentation is found then it is discontinued.

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How Vitiligo is treated?

September 12th, 2009 john No comments

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.

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