Dealing with vitiligo can be challenging but, the advancement in medical science empowers you to manage the condition and gain confidence.
The treatment choices like topical medications, light therapies, surgical procedures, and cosmetic solutions can help you restore some or all of the lost skin colour.
Join us for an informative voyage where you explore everything you need to know about those vitiligo treatments.
The Vitiligo Treatment Landscape
The path towards finding the right vitiligo treatment is indeed a significant step. As you discover the multitude of treatments available, you should know that this healing path will be as unique as you are. And, understanding them will help you make an informed decision on getting treated.
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Topical Treatments
Topical treatments are medications like creams and ointments that are to be applied directly on your skin. Now, these topical medications are like the palette, delicately adding colours to revive the natural shade of your skin.
The anti-inflammatory corticosteroid creams are common and effective treatment for vitiligo in bringing back your skin colour, especially if you are in the early stages or if you have limited areas of vitiligo in your skin.
Children can also safely use the mild form of corticosteroid creams. But do know, like any other medication, these creams have their own share of side effects like thinning of skin, stretch marks and acne, and thus are prescribed only for a short period of time.
Calcineurin Inhibitors like Tacrolimus and Pimecrolimus, can actually make a difference when it comes to vitiligo. The creams or ointments are particularly effective for your face and neck.
These ointments, when applied, can pacify the inflammation and overactive immune response that causes the loss of pigment. And, they can assist you in addressing the melanocyte function and rejuvenation of your skin's hues.
The ointments can be used by both adults and children. But, some people may experience skin irritation or burning, during application.
Well, to reduce the inflammation and help your skin to get back its shade, calcipotriene, a synthetic form of Vitamin D, often teams up with the corticosteroid medication.
This combination is very beneficial for localised vitiligo or when the other treatments could not provide you with the desired results. Remember, there is a possibility that you can have mild skin irritation or itching, but not to be alarmed about.
- Light Therapy
Harnessing the power of the UV (Ultraviolet) lights, the light therapy can actually work wonders and be your partner for the repigmentation of your skin, as they are effective for both localised and generalised vitiligo treatments.
When your skin basks in the UV light, Vitamin D is produced. This reactivates your melanocytes, setting the stage for the return of the colour of your skin.
Phototherapy: If you want a large area of your skin to be treated, phototherapy will be a good choice.
When it comes to active vitiligo, this phototherapy can be an excellent option as it has shown notable improvements among many individuals. This therapy uses a specific range of ultraviolet B (UVB) lights to stimulate your melanocytes.
Although it is generally considered as a safe treatment, your skin might go through some redness or itching.
This phototherapy, using a medication called Psoralen that is either applied topically or taken orally is combined with the exposure of ultraviolet A (UVA) lights. It can penetrate deep into the skin, helping you regain your skin's hues.
Nevertheless, due to the challenges in its administration and risk of potential side effects including eye damage and skin cancer (with extensive PUVA treatments), Narrowband UVB Phototherapy is often the much preferred choice, as they are safer and convenient.
Laser Therapy: If you are looking for treatment options to deal with certain areas of your vitiligo skin, laser therapy emerges as a valuable choice.
Excimer Laser is a highly sought-after solution of laser treatment. This specialised medical laser employs highly focused ultraviolet B lights for repigmentation, especially in case of small to medium sized skin patches.
And, the number of sessions needed may vary depending on your skin's response to the treatment. Though the side effects are generally minimal, you might experience temporary hyperpigmentation or skin blisters.
- Surgeries
If the other treatments haven't quite delivered the results you expected, do not lose hope, because it is time to consider surgery as a viable option. The different procedures used in surgeries aim to reclaim the pigmentation your skin lost.
Skin grafting is a promising technique that involves transplanting some of the healthy, pigmented skin to vitiligo-affected areas of your skin.
While achieving the complete repigmentation process may take multiple sessions, the outcome can be satisfying.
Skin grafting actually encompasses a huge variety of techniques for you to address your distinct concerns. While split-thickness grafting is involved in covering large areas of affected skin, punch grafting transplants circular sections of the skin to the holes created into affected regions.
Cellular Grafting focuses on targeting the root cause of vitiligo, the absence of melanocytes. Here, these pigment-producing cells are harvested to the skin areas that need them.
If you want to achieve a uniform skin tone for your vitiligo concerns, Melanocyte-Keratinocyte Transplantation Procedure (MKTP) proves helpful with the transplantation of melanocytes and keratinocytes (the skin cells) from healthy skin to renew the pigments.
- Depigmentation
If you have extensive vitiligo, depigmentation therapy can provide you the opportunity to even out your skin tone. While most of the treatment focuses on the repigmentation process, depigmentation is all about removing the remaining natural colour in your skin.
Keep in mind that any choice regarding your treatment should be made only after discussing your needs and worries with your dermatologist.
Cosmetic Solutions
Now, let us shift the spotlight to cosmetic products, which can emerge as instruments of self-love and confidence, whether you seek to choose treatment or not. When you choose makeup, go for high-quality, hypoallergenic and toxic chemical-free products that are gentle on your skin, to camouflage the patches.
Also, don't forget to protect your sensitive skin using makeup with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) or apply sunscreen before you start with your makeup regime. If you are eager to learn more about concealing your vitiligo, check out our blog on covering your vitiligo patches with makeup.
Treatments and You
Vitiligo may not have a cure but the treatments can help you manage and restore the pigment of your skin. The treatment options differ from person to person with each individual having their own needs.
Crafting a treatment plan that is perfectly suited to you, involves several factors including your age, the extent of vitiligo and your medical history. Choosing to accept your beautiful self without treatment is a perfectly valid option too.
The decision to pursue treatment or not is yours and we are here to stand by you and offer support.
Darclore: More Medical Than Cosmetical
We are a medical and cosmetic brand but we are also a movement to commemorate the extraordinary YOU! And, at Darclore, we offer a nurturing collection of products to give the natural appearance for all genders. Our dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic products are tailor-made to cater to your special needs, assuring you that they will be very kind to your skin!