Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Vitiligo Treatment - The 3 Principle Alternatives Available

By Tina Brown

Vitiligo is a disease where the skin loses the pigment that gives it colour, and white patches start appearing on the skin surface. The condition is also known as leukoderma and its exact causes are not fully understood. There are a few options available to cure this disease to some extent, but a complete and permanent Vitiligo treatment is not known yet.

Many specialists recommend Phototherapy to Vitiligo patients. This treatment uses ultraviolet radiation to tan the skin, bringing some of its colour back. This is similar to the technology used for thermage. The patient is required to use a substance called Psoralen either orally or by soaking the treatment area with it and the UVA rays are then directed at the affected area to stimulate melanocytes, the melanin producing cells.

Skin grafting is also considered as one of the better treatments. In this procedure, the diseased area is substituted with a healthy melanocyte graft in order to start creating fresh melanin in the area.

In the worst scenario, where almost all of the skin has become diseased, de-pigmenting the healthy areas is sometimes recommended. The de-pigmentation is done on cosmetic grounds, as after the procedure, the skin colour of the healthy and affected areas become the same. De-pigmentation should however be done only when no other option is available, and any potential negative effects must be carefully considered.

Some natural and herbal remedies are also used for Vitiligo treatment. Peppermint oil and a naturally occurring substance called Ginkgo biloba are frequently used in such therapies. The white patches can also be covered using cosmetics specially made for the purpose.

Even though a lot of research is still required to identify the true causes of this skin disorder, these Vitiligo treatments can offer both long and short-term relief to the patients. With advancements in biotechnology, the chances of finding a permanent cure of the disease are increasing.

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