Vitiligo Pigmentation Disorder and Treatments

Vitiligo Treatment

Vitiligo is a generalized abnormality of your immune system that result in white spots on your body; and there are currently no acceptable permanent means to halt this process. When we say treating vitiligo, it means eliminating the white spots weather root cause is addressed or not.

The following are the possible treatment options for vitiligo skin disorder.

There are different types of treatment option available in the market for the Treatment  of Vitiligo. Which treatment is best for you it depend upon the disease condition of the patients. Vitiligo may also increase or decrease during the treatment. I think increasing of the Vitiligo during the treatment is due to the negative effects of the medicine being used for the Vitiligo treatment.

Herbal Medicine

There are hundred of different remedies are available for the vitiligo treatment. Most of the remedies are made by the pure herbal substances.

Herbal medicines as for other medicine are very effective for treatment of vitiligo. Although the it effects very slowly, this slow action is not the drawback of the herbal medicine but it is due to the quality of the herbal medicine that it caught the gross root o the problem. An other advantage of the use of herbal medicine for Vitiligo treatment is that it has very low rate of side effects.

Alternate treatments

Psoralens  a famous natural substance group have been used since long time for vitiligo treatment successfully.  Psoralens have the great curative property for vitiligo these can

can sensitize human skin to the tanning effect of UV light (Sun light), thereby enhancing pigmentation.

Psoralen is found naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, which is an important plant in the Ayuvedic system of Indian medicine. It is also found in common fig, parsley, West Indian satinwood and celery.

Oral Psoralen Therapy

It is commonly even as a domestic remedy for vitiligo, in which the plant Psoralea corylifolia is ingested in various recipes. A common example is soaking the planet parts in water over night and drinking the water in the morning.

The remedy is fairly effective when combined with sun exposure, but very few people will continue to use it because of the following reasons.

a) Extremely unpleasant taste

b) Large quantities are usually required for oral intake which is very cumbersome

     intolerance and side effects in form of nausea and allergic symptoms

c) Unwanted over pigmentation of the whole body

d) The pigmentation is usually temporary which is lost gradually on cessation of treatment

Precautions: Psoralen is a very potent substance, and should not be used without adequate knowledge in its use.

Topical psoralen therapy

Application of the medicine on target skin area is a very vise and convenient alternative to oral ingestion. It can sensitize the skin even locally, which would subsequently gain color on sun exposure.

Various methods of local applications are recommended by different authorities e.g. extracts, oils and concoctions. In which the substance is used alone or in complex recipes along with other herbal materials.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy  is also like herbal medicine a slow mode of treatment. In this vitiligo treatment patient  has to be treated and supervised by homeopathic professional.

Homeopathy like the allopathic medicine believes vitiligo to be a systemic disease, with localized expression. They however differ in the treatment approach, because homeopathy does not offer any localized topical remedy. It aims at detection and restoration of abnormalities in the constitution of the body.

Ayurvedic

Ayurvedic includes herbal/ natural remedial systems in addition to certain other disciplines like surgery and use of heavy metals. The treatment approach for vitiligo is similar to herbal/ all natural approach. Some of the experts also recommend therapeutic vomiting and purgation for vitiligo.

Prescription Medicine

Prescription medicine use either topical steroid or psoralen and oral psoralen.  Prescription medicines are those therapies which are regulated by public laws and their sales is generly prehibted without prescription form a medical professional. Their advantages and side effects are scientifically studied and have a large evidence base to back them up. The main disadvantage how ever they are very expensive and not as effective in vitiligo as some of the herbal products are.

Topical Steroid Therapy

Steroids are fairly potent suppressor of immunity and can hence be of benefit in auto-immune diseases. They are commonly used in the form of topical creams and ointments during the early stages of vitiligo. Milder steroids are used for the children and potent ones for the adults. They are usually recommended for a period of three months and the effect is generally temporary. Local and systemic side effects may limit the use of these agents for prolonged duration.

Steroids are chemically related to cortisol, the major hormone produced by adrenal glands. They are less potent than psoralen photochemotherapy in the treatment of vitiligo.

Psoralen Photochemotherapy

Psoralens are a group of naturally occurring, substances, which can sensitize human skin to the tanning effect of UV light (Sun light), thereby enhancing pigmentation. It is for this important quality, that they have been used with success, to treat vitiligo since ages.

Psoralen is found naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, which is an important plant in the Ayuvedic system of Indian medicine. It is also found in common fig, parsley, West Indian satinwood and celery.

Surgical Therapy

1. Autologous skin grafts
2. Skin grafts using blisters
3. Autologous melanocyte transplants
4. Tatooing

1. Autologous skin grafts

The pigment containing skin from one area of the body is surgically shifted to an area where there is no pigment. The success is usually no predictable and the result may more un-acceptable than the base-line. When the cost, the hassle and the risk of surgical complication like scarring and infection are added, it becomes a fairly risk option to go for.

2. Skin grafts using blisters

It is a variation in the technique of skin grafting, in which blisters on the pigment containing skin are artificially created and then cut out to be transplanted at the required site. The risk of scaring is less than the standard technique but success in the form of re-pigmentation is not very encouraging.

3. Autologous melanocyte transplants

The pigment containing skin from one area of the body is surgically shifted to an area where there is no pigment. The success is usually no predictable and the result may more un-acceptable than the base-line. When the cost, the hassle and the risk of surgical complication like scarring and infection are added,  it becomes a fairly risk option to go for.

4. Tatooing

Tatooing is also an option for the vitiligo treatment. It is more suitable  for darker skins, and the color may become lighter with the passage of time.  Tattooing is totally artificial pigmentation which is deposited into the skin, by using surgical operation or specific tattooing needles. and based on the camouflage technique.

Great care should be taken against tattooing because there are risks of serious infections spreading through tattooing through traditional methods. Tattooing should only be carried out by certified licensed professional. The accuracy of color match shall depend upon the skill of the person doing it.

This is a short description about the know treatment of vitiligo.  One should must consult with the dermatologist before using any treatment. Becuase the  it is depend upon the condition of the patients that which treatment is best for him. There are many things associated with vitiligo like the family hystory, other disease etc