Vitiligo
Early diagnosis and treatment of vitiligo disease, which causes the formation of white spots on the skin, is very important in terms of the course of the disease.
What is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a skin disease. Small white patches appear on the skin. If the loss of color in the resulting skin grows, an aesthetically bad appearance emerges. It can appear on any part of the body, including the hair and mouth. Its density and size are unpredictable. Over time, it can spread to other areas of the body. The cells that give color to human skin produce melanin. The fact that melanin-producing cells stop working causes skin discoloration, that is, vitiligo. Although it is not a contagious and dangerous disease, the biggest problem of vitiligo is that it is not aesthetic in appearance. It causes loss of self-confidence, stress and anxiety.
Causes of Vitiligo
The main reason for the emergence of vitiligo is that the cells that produce melanin stop working. The exact cause is unknown. Often there is no underlying disease. However, it is known that its frequency increases in the presence of certain diseases. Conditions and diseases it may be associated with:
- Genetic causes
- Thyroid diseases
- diabetes
- Some anemia diseases
- Mental problems such as stress, depression,
- Psoriasis
- Sun and chemical burns can trigger the development of the disease.
What are the Vitiligo Types?
There are two known types of vitiligo. There are certain differences in these two types, which are called segmental and non-segmental.
The time of emergence in segmental vitiligo type is childhood. The segmental vitiligo type that occurs in childhood shows a segmental distribution in the body.
Non-segmental vitiligo, on the other hand, does not show segmental localization. It is usually seen on the back of the hands, around the eyes, in the elbow area, on the knees and feet.
How Is Vitiligo Diagnosed?
Early diagnosis and treatment method is very important in vitiligo disease. When you see obvious color differences and light-colored spots on your skin, you should see a doctor immediately. The dermatologist examines the areas with spots during the examination. The definitive diagnosis is made with a special light called Wood. When this light is given to the area where the stain is, the appearance of the spots becomes sharper and more pronounced. This plays an important role in the analysis of stains. If the examining doctor notices a suspicious appearance, a biopsy may also be needed to find out if there is a serious disease. After the diagnosis of the disease is made, necessary drug therapy is started. In addition to drug treatment, stains can be removed with aesthetic interventions. People with vitiligo should go to constant control in the next period of diagnosis and should not forget the advice of their doctor.
What are the Treatment Methods in Vitiligo Disease?
There are certain treatment methods used in vitiligo disease. Which of these treatment methods will be chosen depends on the patient’s condition and the decision of the doctor. No treatment method can guarantee 100% cure in vitiligo treatment. If we list the treatment methods used in the disease;
- Medicines to reduce the spots on the skin,
- Phototherapy (also known as ultraviolet light therapy) is this method for other skin types such as psoriasis.
It is also used in the treatment of diseases. However, the positive result in this treatment method is unfortunately not one hundred percent. This treatment method is used for support purposes in addition to other treatment methods. When the desired result is achieved, the light therapy is terminated.
- Laser treatment applications called excimer,
- Cortisone treatment (This treatment must be applied systematically and correctly),
- Drug treatment called tacrolimus
- If the spots are very common, it is the depigmentation method for lightening the body’s own color. Depigmentation method treatment takes 1 year. As a result of this period, the result is both permanent and the probability of the disease to reoccur is very low.
- Surgical methods are the last methods used in the treatment of the disease. In cases that are stubborn and do not improve for many years, aesthetic treatments can be applied. In aesthetic treatment, the skin from different parts of the body with normal color is removed and transferred to the area where the disease manifests itself. Transplant treatment is not a very common method. In studies conducted, positive results have been seen in a very small proportion of people treated with this method.
Which of the above treatment methods will be applied at which stage should be decided by the specialist doctor. Usually, drug treatment is sufficient in the early diagnosis of the disease. However, other treatment methods are used in late diagnosis and later stages of the disease. In some patients, skin discoloration due to vitiligo is too much and common.
In such cases, the color of your own skin can be lightened and color equalization can be achieved (depigmentation treatment).
The psychological state of the patient should also be considered when treating the disease. Most patients may feel insecure and stressed due to the non-aesthetic condition that occurs in their appearance. In such cases, psychological treatment is also required.
Another method used in the treatment of vitiligo is the camouflage method. Closure can be done with make-up materials suitable for the stained area. There are concealer make-up materials that are special for vitiligo disease. People who have the disease can cover the spots on a daily basis with these make-up products. There are also long-lasting vitiligo make-up products for longer use. There is no treatment purpose in covering stains with make-up materials. The aim is only to minimize the appearance of stains and to make people feel better in the society. We have mentioned above the more effective treatment methods for vitiligo. With these methods, you can get more permanent results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vitiligo
Is the disease contagious?
Pied disease (vitiligo) is not contagious.
Does vitiligo become more prominent spots in the summer?
In the summer months, the spots caused by the disease may become more evident due to the direct contact of the sun with our skin. To prevent this situation, we should use sunscreens suitable for the disease and avoid direct contact of the problem area with the sun. In particular, sunscreen must be at least factor 50. Lower values will not protect you and your disease from the sun.
With which diseases does vitiligo occur?
The disease is more common in people with thyroid and diabetes mellitus.
Does nutrition have an effect on vitiligo disease?
No effect of diet on the emergence of the disease has been revealed in studies. In other words, there is no connection between the diet and the emergence of the disease.
In which regions is the disease most common?
Pied disease is most commonly seen on the hands, face, genital area, arms and legs. Especially if it is seen in the face area, it can leave bad psychological effects on people due to the different appearance of the image.
Should psychological support be sought in Vitiligo?
The manifestation of the disease in directly visible parts can cause individuals to feel bad and lose self-confidence due to their appearance in society. For this reason, some people can live as asocial and confined to their homes. In such cases, it is recommended that the person receives psychological support during the treatment period and afterwards in order to adapt himself and feel happy.
Is vitiligo disease genetic?
Studies have shown that 30 percent of people with the disease have relatives with the disease. In other words, the disease also has a genetic feature. Having the disease in parents and family is an indication that you may also have the disease.
Recommendations for Patients with Vitiligo Disease
Physicians have certain recommendations to improve the quality of life in people with the disease and to treat the disease. These recommendations are;
- Make sure to use sunscreen with a factor of at least 50 every season.
- Vitiligo has a feature called Köbner phenomenon. The Köbner phenomenon is the risk of developing vitiligo in the area where the skin is irritated. Therefore, it is recommended to protect the skin from trauma and irritations and sunburns.
- Be sure to use the creams given by your doctor regularly. Do not use drugs unconsciously within the information you have heard from others or learned from the internet.
- Such patients may cause further progression of the disease.
- If you are very much affected by your appearance, psychological support must be provided along with the treatment.
- We recommend that you buy it. Getting psychological support will prevent your self-confidence from breaking and make you feel better.
Although this process is difficult, you should take care to apply your treatments regularly and correctly. Pigments that come back after treatment in the diseased area may appear as spots. There may be a possibility of recurrence in the following years.
Vitiligo Treatment Prices
It is not possible to give an exact or specific price for the treatment of the disease. Reasons such as which doctor will perform the treatment, drugs used in the treatment, which treatment method will be used, and camouflaged products are the issues that affect the price. The light methods applied in the treatment of such diseases can vary quite differently depending on the experience of the doctor and the equipment of the clinic performing the treatment. Before receiving treatment, we recommend that people who are sick choose a doctor and clinic by doing proper research. With the right doctor and the right treatment method, you can observe that the disease progresses very well in a period of 3 months.
It is important that you choose a treating doctor. We recommend that you read the comments on the internet about which doctor and which method they have been treated, especially by people who have had this disease before.
According to the rules of the Ministry of Health, it is not correct to give prices for health transactions on the internet pages. The prices for your treatment by experienced doctors with high patient satisfaction may also increase. For more information about vitiligo disease treatment prices and examination fees, you can reach us from the information on our contact page and easily make an appointment. After making an appointment, the staff and doctors in our clinic will answer all your questions about vitiligo treatment prices. We provide services with our specialists in the treatment of many diseases to make you healthier and feel happier. You can get information about Ala disease treatment prices by calling our polyclinic on +902122414624
