skin disorders
Vitiligo
Treatment of Vitiligo
Cream containing a corticosteroid andcalcipotrieneor sometimes other substances applied to the skin (topical therapy) Phototherapy and psoralens Surgery Bleaching unaffected skin No cure is known for vitiligo, and the disorder can be challenging to manage. However, skin color may return spontaneously. Treatment may be helpful. All affected areas of skin are at risk of severe sunburn and should be protected from the sun with Clothing and The topical creamruxolitinibcream is available for the treatment of vitiligo. However, depigmentation can recur after use of this medication is stopped. Small patches sometimes darken (repigment) when treated with strong corticosteroid creams. Drugs such astacrolimusorpimecrolimusmay be applied to patches on the face or groin, where strong corticosteroid creams may cause side effects. A cream containingcalcipotriene(also called calcipotriol), which is a form ofvitamin D, andbetamethasone(a corticosteroid cream) is more effective than either cream used alone. Some people simply use bronzers, skin stains, or makeup to darken the area. Because many people still have a few melanocytes in the patches of vitiligo, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light in a doctor’s office (phototherapy) restimulates pigment production in more than half of them ( see Phototherapy ). In particular, psoralens (drugs that make the skin more sensitive to light) combined with UVA light (PUVA) or narrowband UVB light treatment without psoralens can be given. However, phototherapy takes months to years to be effective and may need to be continued indefinitely. It can also lead to Areas that do not respond to phototherapy may be treated with various skin-grafting techniques and even transplantation of melanocytes grown from unaffected areas of the person’s skin. Tattooing is especially useful for areas where it is difficult to restimulate pigment production (such as the nipples, lips, and fingertips). Some people who have very large areas of vitiligo sometimes prefer to bleach the pigment out of the unaffected skin to achieve an even color. Bleaching is done with repeated applications of a stronghydroquinonecream to the skin for weeks to 1 year or more. The cream can be extremely irritating. The effects of bleaching (such as permanent loss of pigment) are irreversible. 