VITILIGO SKIN DISEASE

Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation of parts of the skin, characterized by presence of white patches on the skin. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function. The goal of vitiligo treatment is to improve the appearance of skin lesions. Depending upon the size, number and location of white patches, an individualized treatment plan (medical, surgical and adjunctive therapies) can be tailor made for the patient.

Medical Management

In most of the cases, vitiligo treatment can be done with medication. Experts may suggest creams or gels to apply directly on the skin. Medical management requires supervision & expertise of a dermatologist.

Adjunctive Therapies

• PUVA light therapy: This method is mostly used in vitiligo treatment. UVA light coupled with a medicine psoralen is used to restore the colour of the skin. This treatment requires the expertise and supervision of a dermatologist.
• NBUVB light therapy: This method has become the vitiligo treatment of choice for a wide range of population. It is therapeutically more effective  with minimal side-effects.

Surgical Management

The basic idea of vitiligo grafting is to donate or introduce normal, functioning melanocytes to the depimented skin. These functioning melanocytes are then expected to produce melanin pigment with eventual repigmentation of the vitiliginous skin.

Factors affecting outcome of vitiligo surgery:

1. Stability of vitiligo: Surgery can be performed only if the disease is not active and the lesions are not spreading or expanding any where in the body.
2. Type of vitiligo: some forms of vitiligo respond better than the others.
3. Location of vitiligo on the body: some body parts respond better to grafting compared to other body parts.
4. Size and total area of depigmentation: Choice of procedure also depends upon total area to be treated. While tissues grafting procedures are better for smaller areas, cellular grafting remains the surgical vitiligo treatment of choice for extensive vitiligo.