White Patches/Vitiligo Treatment

Get the Best White Patches/Vitiligo Treatment in Delhi & Leucoderma Treatment in Delhi

Our advanced aesthetic treatments for vitiligo have been the best in the capital with proven results. We’ve had dealt with people who had years old of vitiligo and now they are leading an esteemed life. The Head Dr. Rohit Batra of Derma World, a well known skin and hair specialist in West Delhi provides vitiligo treatment in Delhi for major and minor vitiligo, child vitiligo, vitiligo on hands, wrist, neck, back, lips, etc.

Intro

Vitiligo is a skin disorder that causes white patches on the skin. Under this kind of pigmentation disorder, cells that make pigment (melanocytes) in the skin are destroyed. Owing to this, white patches start appearing on the skin in different parts of the body. The effects of Vitiligo depend on individuals, and the white patches may appear anywhere in the body. The most common areas affected by Vitiligo are inside the mouth, around the nose, rectal areas, and nostrils. The same patches also appear on the mucous membranes (tissues which line the inner part of the mouth and nose) as well as the retina (inner layer of the eyeball).

Though it is not as harmful as other life-threatening diseases, it is a long-term skin problem that is identified when skin losses the normal color.

Sometimes, people get white patches on the areas of the skin which are exposed to the sun. Though it can happen to anybody regardless of race, gender, and age, it is more noticeable in people with dark skin.

Fast Facts on Vitiligo

There are many myths and confusion around the vitiligo, and many people who are suffering from the disease are stigmatized. These facts will help you understand the condition more clearly.

• Vitiligo does not spread by direct contact. It is not contagious in nature.
• This skin disorder happens to anyone regardless of gender, age, or ethnicity.
• It is a lifelong health condition.
• The cause of Vitiligo is still not known, but some researches point to the autoimmune disorder to be the cause of this problem.
• The common treatment options that are applied for the severe cases are – exposure to UVA or UVB lights.
• Vitiligo is different from Albinism, a skin disease where people are born with white patches on the skin because they have melanin cells which do not produce pigment. Whereas people suffering from Vitiligo have working melanin cells that stop producing pigment in future.

How is Vitiligo Activiated in The Skin?

When the cells that produce pigment (color) die, the white patches will appear on the skin that is in a medical term called Vitiligo. The destruction of the melanocytes (the skin pigmented cells) is the real cause of this skin disorder.

As we all know, the melanin determines the color of our skin. So, when it gets affected, the cells stop producing the color and white skin appears in blotches. The degree of the effects of the disease depends on individuals.

The affected portions are generally photosensitive (sensitive to the sun exposure). Whether the patches will spread or not depends on the type of Vitiligo, one is suffering from.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Vitiligo are visible as white patches appear on the skin. As per doctors and scientists, vitiligo affects the areas first that are exposed to the sun, such as hands, feet, arms, and lips. The other parts of the body where white patches can appear are the groin and armpits, and near the mouth, nostrils, navel, genitals and rectum.

• Loss of skin color in patches.
• Whitening or graying of hair on your scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, and beard prematurely.
• The retina (the inner layer of your eye) will also lose or change color.

The affected area by this skin disorder completely depends on the type of vitiligo you are suffering from. It also determines whether the discoloration will continue or stop forming.

Causes of Vitiligo

Vitiligo happens when the melanin-producing cells stop working, resulting in the discoloration of the skin. Though the definite cause of the skin disorder is unknown, there are some factors that involve in affecting the work of melanocytes.

When there are some changes happened in the immune system, it can trigger the issues like vitiligo. Doctors also back the theory and consider that the changes in the immune system will be the real reason for this problem.

Immunity System

The gene variations that influence the work of immune system or melanocytes have roles to play in causing vitiligo. When thevariations attack the immune systems and melanocytes mistakenly, the white patches occur.

Heredity

The disease can be passed down to you if your family members have this problem.

Autoimmune Diseases

Some autoimmune diseases such as hyperthyroidism, alopecia areata, and pernicious anemia can cause this problem.

Other causes of this problem are

Some other factors or environmental conditions will also trigger the skin disease such as sunburn, stress, and an exposure to industrial chemicals.

Types of Vitiligo

Vitiligo is divided into two primary types – segmental and non-segmental.

Segmental vitiligo

If the patches only appear on the one side or segment of the body, it is called segmental vitiligo. This type of vitiligo causes to the people at an early age and expands for a few years.

Non-segmental vitiligo

When both sides of the body are affected by the discoloration issue, this comes under the type of non-segmental vitiligo. This is a common type and nearly 90% of patients are suffering from this. The affected areas expand with time as the short-lived burst discoloration grew with the new pigment-losing cells. This type of vitiligo progresses life-long. The common areas where this type of vitiligo appears are back of the hands, arms, eyes, knees, elbows, feet, mouth, nose and more.

Non-segmental vitiligo is further fragmented into a few types, depending on the areas of the discoloration of the cells.

• Generalized: as the name says, it is the most common among all types and has no certain area where patches appear.
• Acrofacial: white patches will appear on the fingers and toes.
• Mucosal: it triggers on the mucuous membranes and lips.
• Universal: the rare type of vitiligo that covers the most portion of the body.
• Focal: white patches scatter in one or a few discrete areas. Generally, young children suffer from this issue.

Treatments

There is no complete cure for this skin disorder, but treatments are prescribed in order to improve the condition of the discolored skin. Physicians consult with the patients thoroughly and examine the skin condition in the best possible way. Different types of vitiligo need a specific treatment which aims at treating the reason of the problem. For example, if one losses color in the eye and the ear, a specialist of those organs must treat the problem.

Medication

Some tropical creams work better for boosting the immune system and controlling the inflammation. They also help to start pigmenting the cells that improve the appearance of the discoloration. The results are even visible when these creams are applied in combination with the ultraviolet lights. Though it is effective, it has some adverse effects. So, use this therapy for the small discolored area, and it is not applicable for those who are suffering from white patches all over the body.

Other Drugs treatment includes

• Cortico steroids
• Levamisole
• Placental Extract
• Dapsone

NB-UVB

Narrowband UVB light or phototherapy is considered to be an efficient method for treating this skin disorder. Doctors often prescribe the treatment when discoloration covers more than 20% of the body. This is comparably a slow process and starts from the outer layer of the skin and gradually grows inward. Generally, this treatment needs to be done twice a week, but it takes nearly one year to get the result. The equipment used in this therapy is well-tested before it is applied to the patients. Both children and adult can tolerate this treatment procedure.

Laser – Excimer Laser

If cells that stop producing pigments are stimulated in a right way, they can start producing pigment and treat vitiligo efficiently. The excimer laser uses the noble gas and reactive gas together that enhances the treatment. 308-nm excimer laser in an effective modality will treat the discoloration problem and stimulate the cells to produce pigment.

Surgery

When light therapy fails to work, doctors recommend surgeries. There are a few options that prove to be very effective for treating vitiligo. Some of them are mentioned below.

• Grafting: in this surgical procedure, doctors replace the old depigmented skin with the new skin which is normal and has cells that can produce pigment. When you have small white patches, such treatment will help you. Some possible risks of this treatment are an infection, scarring, spotty colors, and so on.
• Suction Blister: a blister is created on the normal skin by using the suction. Doctors use the top of blister by removing it from that area and transplant it on the discolored portion.
• Tattooing (micropigmentation): doctors implant pigment on the skin using a special surgical instrument. This treatment generally is done for the vitiligo in and around the lip area.
• Melanocytes: doctors implant the melanocytes and keratinocytes (the cells of the outer most layer of the skin) on the discolored area. First, they culture the cell in a lab overnight and then place them surgically on the affected area. It has a high success rate as much as 95%.

Who is the best candidate for the treatment?

People who have white blotches on the skin can take help from the vitiligo treatment. Though a complete cure is not guaranteed, some specific treatments will improve the condition of the skin. In most cases, the treatment is effective to start re-pigmenting in the cells. Physicians will check the medical history of the patients who are suffering from vitiligo and examine whether they have thyroid or autoimmune conditions or not. They prescribe treatments according to the type of vitiligo.

Is the result 100%?

Vitiligo is such a condition which is hard to treat, but new medical treatments are coming in and improving the treatment procedure a lot. It generally takes time to give you the result. The treatment procedure may extend from 6 months to 2 years, and it is comparably slow. With the modern treatments, the result is more viable than before.

Individuals give different responses to different treatments. When laser therapy works well on some, melanocyte proves very effective in some cases. So, treatment procedure varies to individuals, and so is the result.

Duration of the treatment

The duration of the treatment depends on the individuals and their degree of problems. Some people get results within 3 to 6 months, whereas some do not see results even in 8 months. To have a good result, you must wait at least 2 years.

After care

Generally, doctors will guide you how to take care of your skin after treatment. You can apply cream and ointment on the affected areas as per the direction of your doctor. Take an extra care when you put creams around your eyes, mouth, and nose. For the light therapy, your skin gets exposed to special lights and it needs careful attention from your part.

It is important for patients to understand the nature and unpredictable course of this disease. A well-balanced nutritious diet with right quantity and quality of vitamins and minerals are essential. Avoid emotional stress, physical & chemical damage to skin, and excessive Vitamin C.

Do not forget to protect your skin from the sun. Use sunscreen, wide brims hats, sunglasses, and clothing that covers the exposed areas.