Know About Best Vitiligo and Leucoderma Treatment in India

Vitiligo refers to the description of a condition whereby patches of the color are lost from the skin due to the depigmentation or hypopigmentation. The loss may have occurred as a result of the death of melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells of human skin, or these cells may have failed to function properly. The extent and rate at which this occurs is not known. Any part of the body can be affected with vitiligo, including the hair inside the lips and eyes. It is more common in darker skin tones, but may occur in all skin types. Vitiligo is not life-threatening, but it may be emotionally distressing and influence an individual's self-image.

Types of Vitiligo:

1. Idiopathic: Cause is unknown.

2. Chemical: Caused by bleaching of the skin or exposure to chemical agents, among other toxins.

Clinical Presentation:

- Depigmented patches. They may start small but grow.

- Often involves the limbs, including hands and feet, face, and the areas surrounding the body orifices like eyes, nostrils, and mouth.

- Lesions often have an increased pigment at the border.

Risks:

- Non-Segmental Vitiligo (NSV): Symmetrical and affects large portions of the body.

- Segmental Vitiligo (SV): More localized and is often more stable than NSV.

Conditions with Vitiligo:

Vitiligo can also be associated with other autoimmune diseases. For example, thyroid abnormalities, alopecia areata, pernicious anemia, adrenal insufficiency, etc.

Diagnosis:

- By physical examination and laboratory investigation

- A biopsy of the skin for confirming the absence of melanocytes

- UV light or Wood's lamp may be able to show up the white patches

Vitiligo treatment:

1. Topical corticosteroids are administered with the aim of restoring the pigment, especially in the early stages of vitiligo.

2. Phototherapy- Exposure of UVB rays on the skin.

3. PUVA Therapy: Combines UVA light with psoralen tablet.

4. Skin Camouflage: Medications applied to blend skin hues

5. Melanocyte Transplantation: Transplants pigment producing cells from other parts of the body

6. Excimer Laser: Used for smaller lesions.

Though there are many forms of treatments that may improve appearance of the skin, vitiligo itself cannot be permanently cured, and the skin white patches can return at any time.