Vitiligo is a common disease affecting 1-2% of the population. It is more frequent in women than men. 50% of patients are under 20 years old. It manifests as large or small areas of white patches on the body and face. In these patchy areas, the cells that give the skin its color (pigment) are lost.
The cause of vitiligo is unknown. Stress triggers and worsens vitiligo. In addition, some diseases are frequently seen in people with vitiligo (diabetes, thyroid disorders (goiter), alopecia areata, lupus, anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, etc.).
Vitiligo is not genetically inherited, but a familial predisposition of 20-30% has been reported.
Vitiligo treatment
PUVA
Psoralen treatment involves UVA (ultraviolet A light) therapy in a treatment room or sunlight two hours after ingestion or topical application. Since treatment with natural sunlight is not safe, treatment in UVA cabins in doctors' offices is more suitable. It is applied twice a week. It is a fairly long-term treatment. Sun exposure should be avoided after treatment; sunglasses should be worn and sunscreen should be used.
Narrowband UVB phototherapy
UVB (ultraviolet B light) treatment is applied in the cabin 2-3 times a week. Since no medication is required, the post-treatment period is comfortable.
Cortisone treatments
Treatment can be administered with cortisone in the form of creams, injections, or pills. Due to its side effects, cortisone treatment cannot be used long-term. Concealing creams and lotions can be applied to the affected areas to hide the appearance of the white patches.
Pimecrolimus and Tacrolimus
It may be recommended in combination with topically applied corticosteroid creams.
Beta-carotene and antioxidant drugs
Beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin A, among other antioxidants, are factors that contribute to pigment formation. They are generally recommended in addition to other treatments.
Laser treatment
Excimer laser treatment has been reported to have successful results. However, it is an expensive method. Long-term results are not yet known. In recent years, creams containing Pimecrolimus or Tacrolimus (Elidel cream) have been used successfully in treatment. Due to the lack of side effects with long-term local application, they can be safely used on sensitive areas such as the eyes and face.
Depigmentation treatment
In patients with vitiligo, a very common disease, the remaining colored areas are whitened with special medications. This method should be used carefully as it causes permanent color loss.
Surgical treatments
Many different methods have been tried, but these are not very commonly used treatments.
Pseudocatalase treatment
This is a new method. It is applied to the vitiligo affected area twice a day. Good results can also be obtained in combination with narrow-band UVB.
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