Is skin grafting a viable treatment for vitiligo?
There are a number of ways to alter the appearance of vitiligo without addressing its underlying cause. In mild cases, vitiligo patches can be hidden with makeup or other cosmetic camouflage solutions. If the affected person is pale-skinned, the patches can be made less visible by avoiding sunlight and the sun tanning of unaffected skin. However, exposure to sunlight may also cause the melanocytes to regenerate to allow the pigmentation to come back to its original color. The traditional treatment given by most dermatologists is corticosteroid cream.[6] Phototherapy may also be beneficial. Using exposure to long-wave ultraviolet (UVA) light from the sun or from UVA, together with Psoralen, called “PUVA”, or with UVB Narrowband lamps (without Psoralen), can help in many cases. Psoralen can be taken in a pill 1–2 hours before the exposure or as a Psoralen soaking of the area 1/2 hour before the exposure. Lately, PUVA is being more and more replaced with exposure UVB Narrowband light at a
Step 1 Although no one knows exactly what causes vitiligo, this condition involves destruction of the cells that produce skin pigment, giving rise to areas of depigmentation. It tends to be more common in certain families, suggesting a genetic component. Although it may involve only small areas of skin, this isn’t always the case. In some unlucky people, it can affect over ten percent of the body. There are a variety of ways to treat vitiligo ranging from coverage of the affected areas with special make-up to surgical grafting. Step 2 In general, vitiligo involving the head and neck is more easily treated than areas involving the lower portion of the body. In some cases, strong, prescription steroid based creams can be used to promote restoration of pigment to the affected areas, although this isn’t always successful. Step 3 Another approach is to use a chemical called a psoralen. This is photosensitizing agent that’s taken by mouth followed by exposure of the skin to ultraviolet light
There are a number of ways to alter the appearance of vitiligo without addressing its underlying cause. In mild cases, vitiligo patches can be hidden with makeup or other cosmetic camouflage solutions. If the affected person is pale-skinned, the patches can be made less visible by avoiding sunlight and the sun tanning of unaffected skin. However, exposure to sunlight may also cause the melanocytes to regenerate to allow the pigmentation to come back to its original color. The traditional treatment given by most dermatologists is corticosteroid cream.[6] Phototherapy may also be beneficial. Using exposure to long-wave ultraviolet (UVA) light from the sun or from UVA, together with Psoralen, called “PUVA”, or with UVB Narrowband lamps (without Psoralen), can help in many cases. Psoralen can be taken in a pill 1–2 hours before the exposure or as a Psoralen soaking of the area 1/2 hour before the exposure. Lately, PUVA is being more and more replaced with exposure UVB Narrowband light at a
