Vitiligo Treatment - The Essential Choices Available

By Nigel Brown

Vitiligo is commonly identified by the white patches that it causes on the skin, due to a loss of pigment. The condition is also known as leukoderma and its exact causes are not fully understood. Vitiligo is chronic and this has made completely healing it difficult, but some Vitiligo treatments do offer a temporary or cosmetic cure.

Many doctors advise Vitiligo patients to go for Phototherapy. This is a widely used treatment, which entails exposure to ultraviolet rays causing the skin to tan. This is not dissimilar to the techique used for thermage. A drug called Psoralen is used under this treatment, and is either taken orally or is applied on the target area. Thereafter, the affected area is exposed to UVA radiation, which activates the cells that create melanin.

Grafting of skin is another remedy for Vitiligo patients. This is a surgical way of re-pigmentation the skin. In this treatment, a melanocyte graft is used to replace the white patch so that the pigmentation process can be restarted.

The condition may sometimes become severe to an extent that almost the entire skin loses its colour. In such a scenario, doctors sometimes recommend removing the pigment from the unharmed areas. This is done for cosmetic reasons as after such a procedure, the white patches are not perceptible and the skin colour looks uniform.. However, this is an extreme measure and it should be considered as a last resort.

Vitiligo treatments that use herbal or natural medication are also offered. Peppermint oil and a naturally occurring substance called Ginkgo biloba are frequently used in such therapies. Special cosmetics are also available in the market for covering Vitiligo affected areas.

Even though a lot of research is still required to identify the true causes of this skin disorder, these Vitiligo treatments can offer both long and short-term relief to the patients. With advancements in biotechnology, the chances of finding a permanent cure of the disease are increasing. - 30415

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