Vitiligo Treatment

Vitiligo is a dermatological disease that causes patchy loss of colour of the skin. The colourless areas can progress with time. It affects any part of the body, hair and mucous membranes.

The pigment of hair and skin is produced by melanin. Vitiligo occurs when melanin-producing cells degenerate or stop working. Vitiligo affects people of all skin types, but it is more noticeable in people with darker skin types. Vitiligo does not pose a threat to life and it is non-communicable, but it can be distressing or have a negative psychosocial impact on one’s self-esteem.

Vitiligo treatment in Mumbai may restore colour to the affected skin, but it doesn’t prevent continued loss of skin colour or a recurrence.

1. Patchy loss of skin colour, which can progress to involve multiple body parts or remain localized to a single area.
2. Loss of colour from the hair on your scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard also known as Leukotrichia.
3. Loss of colour in the mucous membranes

Vitiligo occurs at any age from childhood to old age. Young adults are the most commonly affected age group.

The mode of treatment depends on various factors:

• Age of the patient
• Body surface area involved
• Stability of disease
• Speed of progression
• How much does it affect the quality of life

Medications and light-based therapies are available as the best vitiligo treatment in Mumbai. Various immune modifying medications can be used to halt the progression of the disease and bring stability. Topical lotions and creams are available which help to stimulate melanin and restore pigment into the patches. The treatments required are long-term and require consistency to stabilize and repigment the diseased patches. 

Multiple vitamins and health supplements containing antioxidants are used as an additive treatment in vitiligo patients. This helps to provide micronutrients to the skin and prevent sun damage in the existing patches which may help to slow down the progression of the disease.

If your vitiligo specialist in Mumbai starts you on therapy for vitiligo, it may take a long time to judge its effectiveness. You may have to be subjected to more than one approach or a combination of approaches before you find the treatment that benefits you. Your dermatologist might recommend topical medication as maintenance therapy to help prevent relapse. Patches in hair-bearing areas are first to recover while those on non hair-bearing area require longer treatment and may show partial repigmentation.

Vitiligo Repigmentation Treatment using Phototherapy with narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB)

Phototherapy with narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB) using either 311 or 308 excimer wavelength can help to slow down the progression of patches as well as stimulate melanin pigment in the patches from the hair follicles as well as the surrounding areas. It works better when it is combined with oral and topical medications. It is roughly done twice or thrice in a week and should be continued for 1 to 3 months for optimal results or longer to get complete repigmentation.

Smaller portable or handheld devices for narrow-band ultraviolet B therapy are available for home use. Your dermatologist can provide you with the option if it is applicable in your case.

Micro-needling for Vitiligo Patches

Micro-needling with active compounds (collagen pin) can also be used to produce redness in the patches and stimulate colour from the periphery of the patch. It also helps to spread existing colours and faster coverage of existing patches.

Vitiligo Treatment for Faster Repigmentation of Vitiligo Patches

Regenerative treatments like platelet-rich plasma or progenitor cell therapy like active regenera can be used as additive therapy for faster repigmentation of vitiligo patches as they harvest growth factors from the hair and skin which are injected back into the patches to

• Skin grafting
• Blister grafting
• Cellular suspension transplant

• Protection from harsh sunlight and artificial light sources should be done by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Eyes should be protected using sunglasses with UV protection. Fully covered clothes should be worn to protect affected body parts. This is to lower the chance of sunburn in the patches as they don’t have pigment to protect them from UV radiation. Also, white patches tend to stand out on tanned skin which can be minimized by using sunscreen.
• Camouflage skin kits can be used which contain concealers of various shades to conceal the patches. Especially on the face and exposed areas of the body. Shade matching should be done correctly for optimum results. This is a temporary method to socially conceal the white patches and it lasts for 2-3 days once applied.
• Avoid tattoos. The process of tattooing can make the vitiligo patches stand out all the more and it can lead to formation of new patches at the site of tattooing if the disease is active and progressive.

The change in your appearance caused by vitiligo can lead to psychosocial stress and depression or anxiety. 

Find the best doctor for Vitiligo in Mumbai, at Renewderm, to help you through your journey

Read up and learn about the disease to have appropriate expectations from treatment and for self awareness. 

Communicate your feelings to your dermatologist so that they can reassure and counsel you adequately and answer any questions you may have.

 Get professional psychological help if needed.

Be consistent with your treatment protocols and do not default on your medication or stop on your own without consulting your dermatologist first.

Which treatment is best for vitiligo?

Medications and light-based therapies are available as vitiligo treatment in Mumbai. Various immune modifying medications can be used to halt the progression of the disease and bring stability. Topical lotions and creams are available which help to stimulate melanin and restore pigment into the patches. The treatment required is long-term and requires consistency to stabilize and repigment the diseased patches. 

Can vitiligo be cured permanently?

Vitiligo is not curable, but treatment might halt the spread of the patches and recover a large amount of pigment.

Does vitiligo need any dietary restrictions?

Vitiligo is not connected to diet and no dietary restrictions will affect vitiligo

Does vitiligo stop spreading?

The progression of the disease is unpredictable and erratic. Sometimes the activity of the disease halts without treatment. Mostly if left untreated, the vitiligo may progress to involve almost the entire skin surface area. Treatment might halt the spread of the patches and recover a large amount of pigment. The treatment required is long-term and requires consistency to stabilize and repigment the diseased patches.

When to see a doctor for vitiligo?

Consult your dermatologist if areas of your skin, hair or mucous membranes go light or white in colour.