Vitiligo

About Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a persistent condition that depigments the skin and forms white patches or makes it look pale. This happens due to the loss of melanocytes present in the skin. 

The function of melanocytes is to produce pigment, but, when they get attacked by the immune system, it results in producing less melanin and has an adverse impact on your skin color. 

As the body attacks melanocytes, the patches start to appear and grow. Vitiligo is also referred to as a depigmenting disorder. This condition is not fatal or painful; it is the appearance that troubles the confidence in people. 

At ProDerm Solutions we do our best to assist our patients with this cosmetic concern. From consultation to post-treatment, our dermatologists show utmost dedication and care and use only medically studied treatment modalities.

Causes

According to researchers, the definite cause for vitiligo has not been derived, but it indicates that it is a disorder of the immune system that accidentally targets the melanocytes. Other underlying triggers that cause vitiligo are:

1. Genes—There is a high possibility of developing vitiligo from a family member. There are multiple genes involved, and even the slightest change in them can be a trigger to cause vitiligo.
   
   Risk increases when any blood relatives have the following autoimmune diseases:
• Thyroid 
• Alopecia areata
• Melanoma
• Non-hodgkin lymphoma
• Halo Nevi—this is a mole surrounded with a white round ring
2. Oxidative stress—When the reactive oxygen species triggers melanocytes, it has a direct impact on the skin color. This damage disturbs the ability to produce melanin and leads to oxidative stress. This further spoils the immune response and causes patches. It is a never-ending loop of disruption.
3. Environmental triggers—Skin exposed to the following can cause vitiligo:

• Monobenzone chemical
• Products with phenol chemicals—detergents and household products
• Hair dyes
• Certain PVC items
• Excessive skin exposure 
• Skin injuries such as cuts and scrapes
• Tight clothing causes friction and sometimes this too can be a trigger
• Emotional stress

Symptoms

• Light patches
• Spots
• Loss of color around and inside the nose, mouth, and lips
• Premature graying
• Eyelashes turning white
• Loss of color in one segment of the eye
• Inability to hear—there is presence of melanocytes inside the ears

Extensive Therapy Options at ProDerm Solutions

1. Medical and Topical Therapies

For restoring pigment and eliminating inflammation, we give our patients topical corticosteroids. On sensitive areas, such as the face or neck, calcineurin inhibitors are prescribed. To boost repigmentation, we give calcipotriene—it is a vitamin D analog.

2. Light-Based Treatment - Phototherapy

For improving pigmentation and boosting melanocyte activity, NB-UVB therapy with light is used to treat vitiligo. This requires a couple of sessions and guarantees safety. Targeted excimer laser therapy is a UV treatment used for stubborn patches. 

3. Surgery

If patches are persistent for months together, melanocyte transplantation is performed. This is a process of extracting well-pigmented cells from areas that are not affected, and these are transplanted to rectify the patches. Besides, we use other procedures such as blisters and punch grafting to bring back color in certain areas of the skin, such as the feet, hands, and facial zones. 

4. Supplementary Care

After treatment, maintenance of the result counts. So we do a combination of light and topical medication to keep the skin color from fading. Our extended goal is to counsel our patients to get into a healthy skincare routine, beat stress, and choose good nutrition. 

Why Are We a Reliable Choice?

• Knowledgeable Dermatologists: Our team is well-equipped with knowledge in both medical and surgical vitiligo therapies.
•  Patient-centered care: One type of treatment does not work for all. Every plan is customized based on what type of vitiligo challenges you are facing, its intensity, and how stable the disease is.
• Cutting-edge Technology: We commit to advanced UVB phototherapy systems and highly effective lasers to provide safe and long-lasting results.
• Palliative care: We even work on the social and emotional effects of vitiligo while working on the skin. 
• Honest Communication: Our idea is to enlighten the patient with awareness on timelines, results, and side effects that simplifies the decision-making part.

Procedure To Treatment

• Assessment: We do a physical examination and check the history and the stage it is at.
• Tailored Plan: Based on the assessment results, an informed decision of choosing an applicable therapy is taken for the patient. 
• Number of Sessions: Weekly visits for phototherapy and a day or two for surgical procedures.

Risks & Limitations

• Lesser chances of drastic results; there is a slow response to treatment at times
• The risk of redness, tanning, texture change, and scarring is present if you do phototherapy
• Chances of patches reoccurring are there