4 Therapeutic options for vitiligo

Vitiligo is a long-term skin disease that results in skin patches of depigmentation due to absence or decreased number of melanocytes responsible for production of melanin pigment which gives the skin its usual color.

Vitiligo is manifested with white patches of depigmentation; these patches could appear in any part of the body, but it's commonly seen in the bare areas exposed to direct sunlight such as face or extremities. Also white hair (scalp, beard, eye brow and lashes) is very common in vitiligo.

The actual cause of vitiligo still unclear, but certain medical studies showed that it has an immunological origin; they attributed this to the fact that patients with immunological disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus are the most vulnerable groups to develop vitiligo. On the same context, other studies suggested that positive family history is the main predisposing factor.

There are many therapeutic options for vitiligo, choosing the proper therapeutic plan depends on many criteria such as size, site and number of the depigmentation areas. These options include:

1. Topical cortisone: it should be used under specialized medical supervision due to its side effects (especially hirsutism and dermatitis). Certain medical studies showed that administration of vitamin A supplementation with topical cortisone preparations gives better results.
2. Psoralen and ultraviolet light (PUVA): oral psoralen tablets are taken orally, after 2 hours the affected areas are exposed to ultraviolet light. PUVA sessions should be repeated 2-3 times weekly.
3. Laser technique: it's advanced technology, but it tends to deal with small patches only.
4. Skin implant: healthy area of skin is triggered to form fine skin bubbles, which are harvested and implanted in the affected areas. The disadvantage of this technique is its high cost.