Vitiligo – SP Medifort Hospital

Vitiligo Treatment

Vitiligo Treatment In Trivandrum

Vitiligo is a long‑term skin condition in which patches of skin lose their natural pigment (color) because the cells that produce melanin stop working or die. It’s not contagious or life‑threatening, but the visible patches can affect a person’s confidence and emotional well‑being.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of vitiligo?

Common symptoms include:

Loss of color inside the mouth or nose.
Premature whitening or graying of hair on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or beard.
Weight loss.
White or pale patches on the skin that may spread over time.
Sometimes mild itching in affected areas.
Skin may be more sensitive to sunburn.

What are the different types of vitiligo?

Vitiligo can appear in different patterns on the skin, and its types are classified based on how and where the white patches develop.

Generalized Vitiligo: The most common type, where white patches appear symmetrically on both sides of the body, often affecting the face, hands, and body folds.
Segmental Vitiligo: Patches appear on one side or a specific area of the body, usually starting in childhood and spreading for a few years before stabilizing.
Focal Vitiligo: Small, limited patches appear in one area of the body and do not follow a symmetrical pattern.
Acrofacial Vitiligo: Patches appear on the extremities (hands, feet) and face, especially around eyes, mouth, and fingers.
Universal Vitiligo: A rare type where most of the body loses pigment, leaving only small areas of normal-colored skin.

What causes vitiligo?

The exact cause of vasculitis is often unknown, but it can be triggered by:

Autoimmune Response: Vitiligo is often linked to an autoimmune reaction, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the melanocytes—the cells responsible for producing skin pigment. This leads to the formation of white or pale patches on the skin.
Genetics: A family history of vitiligo or other autoimmune diseases can increase the risk of developing the condition. Certain genes may make some people more susceptible to pigment loss.
Trigger Factors: External or environmental triggers can sometimes start or worsen vitiligo. These include sunburn, physical injury to the skin, or emotional stress, which may trigger the immune system to attack melanocytes.

Diagnosis of Vitiligo

Diagnosing vitiligo involves examining the skin, using special lights, and sometimes running tests to confirm pigment loss and check for related conditions.

Physical Examination: Doctors begin by carefully examining the skin to look for white or pale patches. They check the size, shape, and location of the affected areas to understand how the condition is progressing.
Wood’s Lamp Examination: A Wood’s lamp, which emits ultraviolet light, is used to highlight depigmented areas that may be hard to see under normal light. This helps doctors detect early or subtle patches.
Blood Tests: Blood tests may be done to check for other autoimmune conditions, such as thyroid disease, diabetes, or anemia, since vitiligo often occurs alongside these disorders.
Skin Biopsy (rare): In uncommon cases, a small skin sample is taken and examined under a microscope. This confirms the loss of pigment-producing melanocytes and helps rule out other skin conditions.

What are the vitiligo risk factors?

Certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing vitiligo by affecting skin pigment or triggering an immune response.

Family History: Having relatives with vitiligo or autoimmune diseases increases risk.

Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions like thyroid disease, diabetes, or lupus are linked to vitiligo.

Stress or Skin Injury: Cuts, burns, or emotional stress can trigger patches.

Sunburn: Severe sunburn may lead to pigment loss.

Age: Usually appears before age 30 but can occur at any age.

What treatment options are available for vitiligo?

While there is no cure for vitiligo, treatments can help restore skin color, stop progression, and improve appearance.

Topical Medications: Creams containing corticosteroids or immunomodulators are applied directly to the affected areas. These medications reduce inflammation, help control the immune system’s attack on pigment cells, and may stimulate the skin to produce pigment, gradually improving the appearance of white patches.

Phototherapy: This treatment involves controlled exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, often using narrowband UVB. Phototherapy can stimulate melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) in the skin, helping restore color over time. Multiple sessions are usually needed, and progress is carefully monitored by a dermatologist.

Depigmentation Therapy: For people with widespread vitiligo, depigmentation therapy may be used to lighten the remaining pigmented skin, creating a more even skin tone. This treatment involves topical medications or chemical agents and is considered when other treatments are less effective.

Surgery: In select cases, surgical options like skin grafting or melanocyte transplants are used. Healthy pigmented skin or pigment cells are transplanted to depigmented areas, helping restore natural color, especially in small or stable patches.

Cosmetic Camouflage: Makeup, self-tanners, or special camouflage products can be applied to the white patches to even out skin tone. This is a non-medical approach that helps improve appearance and boosts confidence while other treatments take effect.

Sun Protection: Depigmented skin is more sensitive to sunlight and can burn easily. Using sunscreen, protective clothing, and hats helps prevent sunburn, protects the skin, and reduces contrast between affected and unaffected areas.