When the Treatment is to be Initiated?

As far as the treatment of the disease is concerned, it has to be initiated as quickly as possible.

Certain Cases with No Treatment

There are certain cases, in which no treatment is required. Doctors decide it for those patients who are fair skinned and have few lesions. In these cases, doctors nonetheless recommend the sunscreen.

If Vitiligo Lesions Untreated, What Happens Then?

It is noticed that the white lesions might develop gradually or in some cases rapidly and even they do not develop at all. It has been seen that many patients who have vitiligo but they live the routine normal life.

Any Treatment for Vitiligo Available?

Unfortunately to mention it that still the medical science has not developed any solution or permanent treatment for Vitiligo Cure. But the scientists are working quite hard on this matter and hopefully they will get one soon.

At What Stage Doctors Prescribe Corticosteroids?

Prior to prescribing of a topical steroid, the dermatologists take a number of decisions first. The considerations, which come in between, include the stage of the disease, anatomic site, patient age, cost, frequency of application, side effects, number of refills, and the specific medication. Since corticosteroids are used extensively and there exists huge scientific information about them, they are mostly considered the first line treatment in this disease called ‘Vitiligo’.

How the Potency of Topical Steroids Medications Determined?

To determine the anti-inflammatory properties of topical steroid medications, vasoconstrictor assay happens to be the standard. Although the assay is the one that measures merely the biological function of the medicine, it is widely famed as the amount of vasoconstriction that associates with the potency of the steroids.

The Effectiveness of Topical Corticosteroids

Talking about the review of a number of clinical trials, topical steroids get linked with few of the repigmentations and they might be effective in returning the pigments to smaller areas of the skin which got affected by the skin disorder ‘vitiligo’. The corticosteroids are used normally along with other treatments.

The Side Effects of Using the Corticosteroids

There are side-effects of using corticosteroids like the potent corticosteroids often cause getting the skin thinned and creating stretch marks, telangiectasia, hypertrichosis (excessive growth of hair), and acneform papules.

The Effectiveness of Topical Treatment in Kids

It should be noted that the aggressive treatment of corticosteroids should not be used in the kids. For the little children, doctors often recommend the sunscreen and cover-up measures. They can be used in the kids but they have to be carefully monitored.

The Effectiveness of Corticosteroids Treatments in Adults

In the adults and the patients above the age of 12, the mid-potency of topical corticosteroids like fluticasone propionate ointment or mometasone cream are the best and effective but they are to be used once a day and the treatment should last for 4 to 6 months. If the repigmentation is witnessed, then the treatment has to be continued till no further response is found.

Other Topical Treatments for Vitiligo

The doctors or dermatologists have welcomed the latest introduction of non-steroidal group of topical immunomodulators. Pimecrolimus and tacrolimus for the vitiligo treatment. And they are being used for treating the disease.

Recommending Phototherapy

Doctors often go for prescribing the phototherapy treatments when topical treatment seem less effective and even the phototherapy can be used with topical medications as well.

Although still there is no treatment at all for vitiligo, but the early treatment can stop or slow the process of depigmentation.

When the doctor learns that you have vitiligo, he/she will ask about your medical history then. The vital factors in the medical history include:
•    Vitiligo’s family history
•    The appearance of rash, spots of sunburn or other skin trauma which emerge within two to three months of the beginning of depigmentation
•    Early graying of the hair like before 35 years
•    Physical disease

Additionally, the doctor may also ask you if you or your entire family had any kind of autoimmune disease. It will also be asked if your skin is sensitive when exposed to the sun. The doctor will then also take a tiny sample of your skin for biopsy. A blood sample will also be taken.

Vitiligo disease leaves the skin with white or pale patches, which later develop into more on all over the body. Initially they emerge in tiny sizes and also in one or two numbers but soon they turn into more and the size widen.

The medical science has been continuously working hard to get solution for Vitiligo treatment but in the midst, the disease have nonetheless some solution which are not permanent but effective like anti vitiligo oil, cream, cosmetic surgery, UV therapy and the likes.

By using these treatments, patients can have the disease faded away from the skin but after some time the patches start appearing again.

First positive observations were done on the 21 patients living with non segmental Vitiligo. Then under CUV 102 protocol, two classifications of the patients were done for the study – first 50% of the patients enrolled were undergoing repigmentation treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B therapy where the rest of the 50% were under the treatment for NB-UVB alone.

The study shows that the initial observation in the 21 patients reveals that the dosing of afamelanotide (16mg implant) in combination with NB-UVB on monthly basis possesses the capability of achieving the speedy and deeper pigmentation of vitiliginous skin lesions.

The study also reveals that the skin disorder ‘Vitiligo’ is a disease that loses the melanin production in body which results in the loss of white or off-white depigmented skin lesions. The non segmental vitiligo affects more than 45 million patients around the world and leaves the patients in psychological and emotional suffering.

For further details, please visit:

http://vitiligocover.com/first-positive-observations-from-clinuvel-us-vitiligo-study/

25th June – Vitiligo Awareness Day

In order to bring this cause to the World Centre Stage, Vitiligo Awareness Day, June25th has been zeroed in. The main focus of the day is to provide the awareness and education to the patients suffering from Vitiligo by educating them to improve the quality of life. The patients’ low-self esteem, complex and confidence lacking is because of the disease and what society behaves with them. Even they are ignored in the medical community.

Vote to Raise the Voice for ‘World Vitiligo Day’

VITSAF’S (Vitiligo Support and Awareness Foundation) efforts to raise its voice before the U.N to make World Vitiligo Day’ on June 25th has been tremendous. Various countries hold various day for Vitiligo Awareness as in India, it is 19th May and in U.S. only there are two days – one in April and other is in July.

Raise your voice to provide your signature in our petition to let us gain the figure of 500,000 signatures to seek the U.N’s support for making the 25th June ‘World Vitiligo Day’.