Human Skin Information Portal For Professionals

UV Camera Reveals Cancer-Causing Skin Damage

Main Category: Dermatology
Also Included In: Melanoma / Skin Cancer;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 11 May 2012 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

<!-- rate article

Patient / Public:

Healthcare Prof:

With high UV levels continuing in Queensland this autumn, young people are at risk of suffering the worst skin damage they will receive during their lifetime, research from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has found.

Researcher Professor Michael Kimlin from QUT's AusSun Research Lab said the study found UV exposure during a person's first 18 years of life was the most critical for cancer-causing skin damage and skin aging.

Professor Kimlin said while people aged over 50 had the slowest rate of skin degradation, results indicated that damage still occurred even at that age, so lifetime sun protection was important.

The study used a unique, non-invasive "UV camera", which took images of skin damage and aging invisible to the naked eye, to measure the relationship between lifetime sun exposure and skin cancer risk.

Professor Kimlin said the majority of skin damage occurred in the early years of sun exposure, with a much slower increase in damage in subsequent years over the age of 50.

"We looked at how age impacted on the skin damage we saw and found it's not a simple one to one relationship," said Professor Kimlin.

"The message from this research is to look after your skin when you are a child and teenager to prevent wrinkles and skin damage.

"Sun protection when you are young sets you on a lifetime of good skin health."

One hundred and eighty people aged 18 to 83 years old were imaged with the UV camera and interviewed to determine the level of their sun exposure.

The study measured hyperpigmentation of the skin to determine level of damage and wrinkles to indicate skin aging.

Professor Kimlin said using the UV camera meant people's skin could be examined for skin cancer risk factors without an invasive biopsy.

• Additional
• References
• Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

---

APA

---

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

---

Add Your Opinion On This Article

'UV Camera Reveals Cancer-Causing Skin Damage'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let
you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care
professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

Privacy Policy |
Terms and Conditions

MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.

back to top | home |
privacy policy

MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.

Article source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/245238.php

Investigating Potential Link Between Sunscreen Ingredient And Endometriosis

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Dermatology
Article Date: 11 May 2012 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

<!-- rate article

Patient / Public:

Healthcare Prof:

Scientists are reporting a possible link between the use of sunscreen containing a certain ingredient that mimics the effects of the female sex hormone estrogen and an increased risk of being diagnosed with endometriosis, a painful condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus. They describe the report, published in ACS' journal Environmental Science Technology, as the first to examine whether such a connection may exist.

Kurunthachalam Kannan and colleagues explain that some sunscreens and other personal care products contain benzophenone (BP)-type ingredients that are very effective in blocking potentially harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Small amounts of BPs can pass through the skin and be absorbed into the blood, where they mimic the effects of estrogen. Endometriosis, which affects up to 1-in-10 women of reproductive age, needs estrogen to develop. Despite those facts, scientists until now had not checked for a connection between the use of BP sunscreens and the likelihood of being diagnosed with endometriosis.

To fill that knowledge gap, the scientists analyzed BP levels in the urine of 625 women who underwent surgery for endometriosis. They found that high levels of one BP called 2,4OH-BP were associated with an increased risk of an endometriosis diagnosis. Women tended to have higher levels of BPs during the summer months and if they lived in sunny California, further suggesting a link with sunscreens. "Our results invite the speculation that exposure to elevated 2,4OH-BP levels may be associated with endometriosis," say the researchers.

• Additional
• References
• Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

---

APA

---

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

---

Add Your Opinion On This Article

'Investigating Potential Link Between Sunscreen Ingredient And Endometriosis'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let
you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care
professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

Privacy Policy |
Terms and Conditions

MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.

back to top | home |
privacy policy

MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.

Article source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/245221.php

Multi-Center Study Reveals That Eye Color May Indicate Risk For Serious Skin Conditions

Main Category: Dermatology
Also Included In: Melanoma / Skin Cancer;  Arthritis / Rheumatology
Article Date: 08 May 2012 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

<!-- rate article

Patient / Public:

Healthcare Prof:

Eye color may be an indicator of whether a person is high-risk for certain serious skin conditions. A study, led by the University of Colorado School of Medicine, shows people with blue eyes are less likely to have vitiligo. It then follows, according to scientists, that people with brown eyes may be less likely to have melanoma. Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease in which pigment loss results in irregular white patches of skin and hair. Melanoma is the most dangerous kind of skin cancer.

The study is published online by the journal Nature Genetics. It looked at almost 3,000 people with vitiligo of Non-Hispanic European ancestry, identifying 13 new genes that predispose to vitiligo. Among the vitiligo patients, approximately 27 percent had blue/gray eyes, 43 percent had tan or brown eyes and 30 percent had green or hazel eyes, which is significantly different from the normal distribution of eye color where approximately 52 percent of Americans of Non-Hispanic European ancestry have blue/gray eyes, 22 percent have green/hazel eyes, and 27 percent have tan or brown eyes.

Richard Spritz, MD, is director of the Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program at the CU School of Medicine, the coordinating center for the research. Spritz said the study primarily looked at vitiligo but also has implications for melanoma.

"Genetically, in some ways vitiligo and melanoma are polar opposites. Some of the same genetic variations that make one more likely to have vitiligo make one less likely to have melanoma, and vice-versa," said Spritz. "Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, in which a person's immune system attacks their normal pigment cells. We think that vitiligo represents over-activity of a normal process by which one's immune system searches out and destroys early cancerous melanoma cells."

People with vitiligo are at higher risk for various other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Vitiligo patients' close relatives also are at higher risk for these same diseases, even if they don't have vitiligo. Spritz said this means there must be some genes that push towards these autoimmune diseases in general, while other genes and environmental triggers determine which autoimmune disease occurs and when. So, as scientists learn about the genetics of vitiligo, they also are learning about the genetics of these other autoimmune diseases.

• Additional
• References
• Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

---

APA

---

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

---

Add Your Opinion On This Article

'Multi-Center Study Reveals That Eye Color May Indicate Risk For Serious Skin Conditions'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let
you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care
professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

Privacy Policy |
Terms and Conditions

MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.

Article source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/245073.php

What Is Vitiligo? What Causes Vitiligo?

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Dermatology
Article Date: 07 May 2012 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

<!-- rate article

Patient / Public:

5 (1 votes)

Healthcare Prof:

Vitiligo is a continual and long term skin problem that produces white depigmentation patches that develop and enlarge only in certain sections of the skin.

These white patches appear because the patient has very little or no skin cells - called melanocytes - which are the cells in charge of producing the skin pigmentation, called melanin, which gives the color of the skin and protects it from the sun´s UV rays.

It is impossible to predict how much of the skin can be affected. In the majority of cases, the affected areas remain affected for the rest of the person's life.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, Vitiligo is:

"The appearance on otherwise normal skin of nonpigmented white patches of varied sizes often symmetrically distributed and usually bordered by hyper pigmented areas; hair in the affected areas is usually white. Epidermal melanocytes are completely lost in depigmented areas by an autoimmune process."

What are the causes of vitiligo? How common is vitiligo?

Surprisingly, the causes of vitiligo are yet to be precisely established, but most of the research so far points to the following:

• An autoimmune disorder - the patient's immune system becomes overactive, and destroys the melanocytes
• Genetic oxidative stress imbalance
• A stressful event
• Harm to the skin due to a critical sunburn or cut
• Exposure to certain chemicals
• A neural cause
• A viral cause

Vitiligo is not transmittable; people cannot catch it from each other.

Depigmentation of sections of skin and hair in 48-year-old man
Less than 1% of the population is affected by the appearance of Vitiligo in their skin, meaning, it is not too common. It has no age, sex or ethnic discrimination, but studies have concluded that a larger percentage of the cases has been detected starting the age of 20.

Vitiligo signs and symptoms varies considerably from person-to-person. It is by far more perceptible in people with dark or tanned skinned. Some people may only acquire a handful of white dots which develops no further, while others develop larger white patches that join together affecting larger areas of the skin.

Types of Vitiligo

To easier explain this condition, scientists have separated vitiligo in basically two types which are called: non segmental, and segmental vitiligo.

NonSegmental Vitiligo

It is the most common type of vitiligo and occurs in up to 90% of the people who have this disorder.

In non-segmental vitiligo, the patches often become visible equally on both sides of the body, with some kind of symmetry. These unusual symmetrical patches most commonly appear on skin that is exposed daily to the sun, such as the face, neck, and hands, but it also appears on these other areas:

• backs of the hands
• arms
• eyes
• knees
• elbows
• feet
• mouth

Non-segmental vitiligo has sub-categories:

• Generalized Vitiligo: the most familiar pattern, it has no specific area or size when the white patches start occurring
• Acrofacial Vitiligo: This type of vitiligo is considered only when the appearance is mostly on the fingers or toes
• Mucosal Vitiligo: The appearance of the depigmentation generally around the mucous membranes and lips
• Universal Vitiligo: It is very rare since depigmentation has to cover most of the body
• Focal Vitiligo: one or a few scattered white patches in a small certain areas. It is often noticeable in young children

Segmental Vitiligo

Segmental Vitiligo has a different form of appearance. This condition spreads more rapidly, but is considered more constant and stable than non segmental. It is definitively much less common, and it affects only about 10% of people with this condition. But unpredictably, segmental vitiligo is more noticeable in the early ages affecting about 30% of the children that have been diagnosed with vitiligo.

It is non-symmetrical and usually tends to affect dorsal roots of the spine. It is more stable, less erratic, and responds well to topical treatments.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Vitiligo?

A symptom is felt by the patient, such as a headache dizziness or pain, and described to other people, including doctors and nurses. A sign can be spotted by everybody, including the patient, such as lighter patches of skin, a rash, or loss of hair.

The only sign of Vitiligo is the appearance of flat white spots or patches on the skin. Most of the times, the first white spot that becomes noticeable is usually on an area of the body that is exposed continuously to the sun.

At first, the vitiligo starts as a simple spot, a little paler than the rest of the skin. But gradually, as time passes, this spot will become much paler until reaching the white color.

The shape of these patches are completely irregular, and at times the edges can become a little inflamed with a slight red tone, and may sometimes result in itchiness. Other than the negative appearance and some itchiness of Vitiligo, it does not cause any discomfort, irritation, soreness or dryness in the skin.

Vitiligo is photosensitive; the patient should avoid prolonged skin exposure to direct sunlight.

To predict whether Vitiligo will spread, and by how much is particularly difficult. The spreading of the white patches to some might occur considerably in a matter of weeks, and to others it can rest without growing for months or even years.

If the first symptoms of the white patches are symetrical (non segmental vitiligo,) in other words, in the same areas of both parts of the body, the development is much slower than if the patches are in only one area of the body (segmental vitiligo).

What are the treatment options for vitiligo?

There are a number of remedies that can be performed in order to decrease the visibility of Vitiligo on the affected areas of the skin.

Phototerapy With UVB Light

Exposing the affected skin to UVB lamps is a very common practice and one of the simplest treatments, since it can easily be performed at home with a small lamp.

This home-alone treatment is recommended, and is highly effective since the person can do it daily. If these same treatments are done in clinics, the patient needs to go to the clinic 2-3 times per week, which slows down recuperation time.

If the white spots are located in large areas of the body, UVB phototherapy will have to be performed in a hospital with a full body treatment. It is important to mention the fact that even if evidence has suggested that UVB phototherapy, particularly when combined with other treatments, has a positive effect on vitiligo, it is still quite unpredictable and undependable.

There is still no real treatment that will totally re-pigment the skin to its full potential.

Phototerapy With UVA Light

This other Ultraviolet light (UVA) treatment is most commonly done in a hospital clinic. A drug that increases the skin´s sensitivity to ultra violet light, called psoralen, must be taken while the patient undergoes UVA light therapy. The affected skin goes through a series of UVA treatments, exposing the specific areas to high doses of UVA light.

In order to get any noticeable improvement, the patient will have to do several sessions. Progress will be evident usually after 6-12 month of twice-weekly sessions.

Skin Camouflage

In many cases, when vitiligo is still considered mild, some of the white patches can be camouflaged with cosmetic colored creams and makeup. The patient should select tones that best match his/her skin features.

Applying the creams is not too difficult, although some training will have to be done. If these creams and make up are correctly applied, they will last between 12-18 hours in the face, and up to 96 hours in the rest of the body. Most of the topical applications are water-proof.

Depigmenting

When the affected area is very widespread, in at least more than 50% of the body, de-pigmentation can be a viable solution. Depigmentation reduces the skin color in the areas that are not affected, in order to match the tone colors as much as possible.

Depigmentation is achieved by the use of several choices of strong topical lotions or oinments, like monobenzone, mequinol, or hydroquinone.

When the cream is applied to the areas with pigmentation, the pigmentation itself is eliminated.

Most of the times,l this treatment is considered permanent, and makes the skin more fragile. Special attention would have to be considered to avoid long exposures to the sun. The complete treatment of depigmentation will take between 12 to 14 months.

Topical Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids ointments or creams contain steroids. Some studies have concluded that topical corticosteroids when applied in the white patches can stop the spread. In other cases, experts have reported total restoration of the original skin color. Corticosteroids should never be used in the face.

If after one month of using any type of corticosteroid, the general practitioner sees that the vitiligo patches are not improving, or side effects are noticeable, treatment must stop.

If vitiligo, on the other hand, has shown some improvement, the treatment should be paused for a couple of weeks before starting it again.

Skin Grafts

A skin graft is a surgical procedure which entails carefully removing healthy patches of pigmented skin and using them to cover affected areas. This procedure is not very common because it is time consuming, and can result in scaring in two places - areas where the skin was taken out and also where it will be placed.

Skin graft procedure should never be performed in children. It should be performed in adults only if no new white patches have appeared or gotten worse in at least a year, and if the vitiligo was not originally triggered by damaging the skin due to a sever sunburn.

Are there any complications linked to vitiligo?

Although the vitiligo itself cannot develop into another condition, people with the condition are more likely to have some other autoimmune disorder, such as a thyroid problem, diabetes type 1, or pernicious anemia. The majority of vitiligo patients do not have these conditions, but a healthcare professional may recommend tests to rule them out.

If the vitiligo is noticeable by other people, embarrassment can lead to self-esteem problems, and in some cases depression.

Written by Christian Nordqvist

Copyright: Medical News Today

Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

---

APA

---

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

---

Add Your Opinion On This Article

'What Is Vitiligo? What Causes Vitiligo?'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let
you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care
professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

Privacy Policy |
Terms and Conditions

MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.

Article source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245081.php

What Is Vitiligo? What Causes Vitiligo

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Dermatology
Article Date: 07 May 2012 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

<!-- rate article

Patient / Public:

Healthcare Prof:

Vitiligo is a continual and long term skin problem that produces white depigmentation patches that develop and enlarge only in certain sections of the skin. These white patches appear because the patient has very little or no skin cells - called melanocytes - which are the cells in charge of producing the skin pigmentation, called melanin, which gives the color of the skin and protects it from the sun´s UV rays.

It is impossible to predict how much of the skin can be affected. In the majority of cases, the affected areas remain affected for the rest of the person's life.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, VITILIGO is:

"The appearance on otherwise normal skin of nonpigmented white patches of varied sizes often symmetrically distributed and usually bordered by hyper pigmented areas; hair in the affected areas is usually white. Epidermal melanocytes are completely lost in depigmented areas by an autoimmune process."

What are the causes of vitiligo? How common is vitiligo?

Surprisingly, the causes of vitiligo are yet to be precisely established, but most of the research so far points to the following:

• An autoimmune disorder - the patient's immune system becomes overactive, and destroys the melanocytes
• Genetic oxidative stress imbalance
• A stressful event
• Harm to the skin due to a critical sunburn or cut
• Exposure to certain chemicals
• A neural cause
• A viral cause

Vitiligo is not transmittable; people cannot catch it from each other.

Less than 1% of the population is affected by the appearance of Vitiligo in their skin, meaning, it is not too common. It has no age, sex or ethnic discrimination, but studies have concluded that a larger percentage of the cases has been detected starting the age of 20.

Vitiligo signs and symptoms varies considerably from person-to-person. It is by far more perceptible in people with dark or tanned skinned. Some people may only acquire a handful of white dots which develops no further, while others develop larger white patches that join together affecting larger areas of the skin.

Depigmentation of sections of skin and hair in 48-year-old man

Types of Vitiligo

To easier explain this condition, scientists have separated vitiligo in basically two types which are called: non segmental, and segmental vitiligo.

NonSegmental Vitiligo

It is the most common type of vitiligo and occurs in up to 90% of the people who have this disorder.

In non-segmental vitiligo, the patches often become visible equally on both sides of the body, with some kind of symmetry. These unusual symmetrical patches most commonly appear on skin that is exposed daily to the sun, such as the face, neck, and hands, but it also appears on these other areas:

• backs of the hands
• arms
• eyes
• knees
• elbows
• feet
• mouth

Non-segmental vitiligo has sub-categories:

• Generalized Vitiligo: the most familiar pattern, it has no specific area or size when the white patches start occurring
• Acrofacial Vitiligo: This type of vitiligo is considered only when the appearance is mostly on the fingers or toes
• Mucosal Vitiligo: The appearance of the depigmentation generally around the mucous membranes and lips
• Universal Vitiligo: It is very rare since depigmentation has to cover most of the body
• Focal Vitiligo: one or a few scattered white patches in a small certain areas. It is often noticeable in young children

Segmental Vitiligo

Segmental Vitiligo has a different form of appearance. This condition spreads more rapidly, but is considered more constant and stable than non segmental. It is definitively much less common, and it affects only about 10% of people with this condition. But unpredictably, segmental vitiligo is more noticeable in the early ages affecting about 30% of the children that have been diagnosed with vitiligo.

It is non-symmetrical and usually tends to affect dorsal roots of the spine. It is more stable, less erratic, and responds well to topical treatments.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Vitiligo?

A symptom is felt by the patient, such as a headache dizziness or pain, and described to other people, including doctors and nurses. A sign can be spotted by everybody, including the patient, such as lighter patches of skin, a rash, or loss of hair.

The only sign of Vitiligo is the appearance of flat white spots or patches on the skin. Most of the times, the first white spot that becomes noticeable is usually on an area of the body that is exposed continuously to the sun.

At first, the vitiligo starts as a simple spot, a little paler than the rest of the skin. But gradually, as time passes, this spot will become much paler until reaching the white color.

The shape of these patches are completely irregular, and at times the edges can become a little inflamed with a slight red tone, and may sometimes result in itchiness. Other than the negative appearance and some itchiness of Vitiligo, it does not cause any discomfort, irritation, soreness or dryness in the skin.

Vitiligo is photosensitive; the patient should avoid prolonged skin exposure to direct sunlight.

To predict whether Vitiligo will spread, and by how much is particularly difficult. The spreading of the white patches to some might occur considerably in a matter of weeks, and to others it can rest without growing for months or even years.

If the first symptoms of the white patches are symetrical (non segmental vitiligo,) in other words, in the same areas of both parts of the body, the development is much slower than if the patches are in only one area of the body (segmental vitiligo).

What are the treatment options for vitiligo?

There are a number of remedies that can be performed in order to decrease the visibility of Vitiligo on the affected areas of the skin.

Phototerapy With UVB Light

Exposing the affected skin to UVB lamps is a very common practice and one of the simplest treatments, since it can easily be performed at home with a small lamp.

This home-alone treatment is recommended, and is highly effective since the person can do it daily. If these same treatments are done in clinics, the patient needs to go to the clinic 2-3 times per week, which slows down recuperation time.

If the white spots are located in large areas of the body, UVB phototherapy will have to be performed in a hospital with a full body treatment. It is important to mention the fact that even if evidence has suggested that UVB phototherapy, particularly when combined with other treatments, has a positive effect on vitiligo, it is still quite unpredictable and undependable.

There is still no real treatment that will totally re-pigment the skin to its full potential.

Phototerapy With UVA Light

This other Ultraviolet light (UVA) treatment is most commonly done in a hospital clinic. A drug that increases the skin´s sensitivity to ultra violet light, called psoralen, must be taken while the patient undergoes UVA light therapy. The affected skin goes through a series of UVA treatments, exposing the specific areas to high doses of UVA light.

In order to get any noticeable improvement, the patient will have to do several sessions. Progress will be evident usually after 6-12 month of twice-weekly sessions.

Skin Camouflage

In many cases, when vitiligo is still considered mild, some of the white patches can be camouflaged with cosmetic colored creams and makeup. The patient should select tones that best match his/her skin features.

Applying the creams is not too difficult, although some training will have to be done. If these creams and make up are correctly applied, they will last between 12-18 hours in the face, and up to 96 hours in the rest of the body. Most of the topical applications are water-proof.

Depigmenting

When the affected area is very widespread, in at least more than 50% of the body, de-pigmentation can be a viable solution. Depigmentation reduces the skin color in the areas that are not affected, in order to match the tone colors as much as possible.

Depigmentation is achieved by the use of several choices of strong topical lotions or oinments, like monobenzone, mequinol, or hydroquinone.

When the cream is applied to the areas with pigmentation, the pigmentation itself is eliminated.

Most of the times,l this treatment is considered permanent, and makes the skin more fragile. Special attention would have to be considered to avoid long exposures to the sun. The complete treatment of depigmentation will take between 12 to 14 months.

Topical Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids ointments or creams contain steroids. Some studies have concluded that topical corticosteroids when applied in the white patches can stop the spread. In other cases, experts have reported total restoration of the original skin color. Corticosteroids should never be used in the face.

If after one month of using any type of corticosteroid, the general practitioner sees that the vitiligo patches are not improving, or side effects are noticeable, treatment must stop.

If vitiligo, on the other hand, has shown some improvement, the treatment should be paused for a couple of weeks before starting it again.

Skin Grafts

A skin graft is a surgical procedure which entails carefully removing healthy patches of pigmented skin and using them to cover affected areas. This procedure is not very common because it is time consuming, and can result in scaring in two places - areas where the skin was taken out and also where it will be placed.

Skin graft procedure should never be performed in children. It should be performed in adults only if no new white patches have appeared or gotten worse in at least a year, and if the vitiligo was not originally triggered by damaging the skin due to a sever sunburn.

Are there any complications linked to vitiligo?

Although the vitiligo itself cannot develop into another condition, people with the condition are more likely to have some other autoimmune disorder, such as a thyroid problem, diabetes type 1, or pernicious anemia. The majority of vitiligo patients do not have these conditions, but a healthcare professional may recommend tests to rule them out.

If the vitiligo is noticeable by other people, embarrassment can lead to self-esteem problems, and in some cases depression.

Written by Christian Nordqvist

Copyright: Medical News Today

Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

---

APA

---

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

---

Add Your Opinion On This Article

'What Is Vitiligo? What Causes Vitiligo'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let
you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care
professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

Privacy Policy |
Terms and Conditions

MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.

Article source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245081.php