Cure of vitiligo is not an easy of simple matter. In this blog in my two post I discussed the types of different treatment methods and the types of vitiligo.
There are many treatment procedures and medicines are available in the marketing for the cure of vitiligo as i discussed in my previous post, and every one providing treatment and cure claims that this is best treatment with affective result for cure of vitiligo. As for as concern with the Cure in vitiligo, Different people use the term cure in different meanings. Some use this term for complete recovery from illness, while others are concider only with re-pigmentation of the existing spots and the getting back of the original color of the body.
If people think that total annihilation of the disease from the body system, that is a tricky matter. Vitiligo results from some faults of your normal defense mechanisms against infection. The body begins to produce antibodies, which works against pigment producing cells of its own skin. No definite causes are known, and so are the remedies. Vitiligo is a very common anomaly of the immune system, and there are currently no acceptable permanent resources to stop this process.
The damage to pigment producing cells manifests as patches of skin, which have reduced, or no pigment. This is what bothers you, us and every one else.
You cannot cure vitiligo or halt it completely, but you can manage the local manifestations (white spots) using topical or oral treatments.
If you disease is not widely increased, and is limited you can go for a topical treatment.

Types of Vitiligo
There are many types of vitiligo under the two main types.

1.Generalized Vitiligo

(a)Vulgaris Vitiligo
Due to wide spread it may take long time for treatment and normally it is not easy to treat this type of vitiligo. Also surgery may not be an option for patients of vitiligo vulgaris.In vitiligo vulgaris small patches of vitiligo are spread in a pattern like shower admixed with normal skin in segmental or acrofacial pattern.
This is the most common type with bilaterally symmetrical lesions, predominantly distributed over face, neck, torso, fingers, toes, palms, soles and facial orifices.

(b)Acrofacial vitiligo
Acrofacial vitiligo is very common distribution of the disease in this type of vitiligo the white spot are restricted to parts away from the center of the body.
Affecting distal extremities and face. Some patches on face and some on other body parts, but not on all over the body.
the disease effects the exposed parts of the body such as head , face , feet and hand, therefore it also causes the great emotional distress.

(c)Universal vitiligo
It is also called vitiligo totalis, this type of disease cover almost all the body except some parts of the body like islands. Only choice for the treatment is permanent medical bleaching.

2. Localized Vitiligo

(a)Focal pattern vitiligo
In focal vitiligo a single patch on face, hand or leg with no other occurrences of disease on other body parts.
A light topical treatment is enough for the cure of focal pattern vitiligo and also small cosmetic surgery and tattooing are enough for such vitiligo.

(b)Segmental pattern vitiligo
It is often called Lip Tip vitiligo because it is mostly limited to lips , distal parts of the fingers and toes. It is most difficult to treat segmental vitiligo.
Segmental vitiligo has quasi-dermatomal pattern with one or more spots. These patches are of irregular shap and asymmetric in distribution.
One or more patches are distributed within the same segment (anatomical distribution of the body) of the body.

Vitiligo

White spots appeared on the areas exposed to the sun, hand feet, arm, face and neck etc are called vitiligo. Vitiligo is a skin condition or one say a skin disease in which melanin (pigmenting substance responsible for skin color) production disturbed.

Some time vitiligo is called pigmentation disorder in the human skin. The human skin contains special skin cells called melanocytes. Actually these cell t produce the pigment melanin which provide color of the skin. When melanocytes and mucous membranes tissues that is situated inside the mouth, nose, genital and rectal areas and the retina of the eyes are destroyed resulting the white patches of vitiligo.
These white patches of skin may appear on different parts of the body. Vitiligo may also causes the turn of color of hairs into white above the area affected by vitiligo.

Vitiligo has a close relation with autoimmune system of the body, and it is not wrong if we say that vitiligo is a common anomaly of the immune system that result in white spots on in the body. Case study shows that there are currently no acceptable permanent means to halt this process and exact reason of vitiligo is unknown. When we talk about the cure of vitiligo, we deals with eliminating the white spots weather root cause is addressed or not. Sunburn is a common symptom of vitiligo.

Today there are dozens of different methods in used for the treatment of vitiligo but there in no exact theory regarding the causes of vitiligo. One famous theory says some toxic material produced in the body which destruct the melanocytes cells.

Vitiligo Treatment

Vitiligo is a generalized abnormality of your immune system that result in white spots on your body; and there are currently no acceptable permanent means to halt this process. When we say treating vitiligo, it means eliminating the white spots weather root cause is addressed or not.

Vitiligo can be categorized into following
1. Localized Vitiligo:
Focal pattern vitiligo
Segmental pattern vitiligo
2.Generalized Vitiligo:
Acrofacial vitiligo
Vulgaris Vitiligo
Universal vitiligo

The following are the possible treatment options for vitiligo skin disorder.

Home Remedies
Alternate treatments
Oral therapies with natural Psoralen
Topical therapies using natural Psoralen
Homeopathic
Ayer Vedic
Prescription Medicine
Topical steroid therapy
Psoralen photochemotherapy
Surgical Therapy
Autologous skin grafts
Skin grafts using blisters
Autologous melanocyte transplants
Totooing

Home Remedies

Various methods and remedies are used by the effected people for this disease which range from simple dietary modifications to ingestion of psoralen. The benefits are as variable as the nature of remedies. The most effective of all these is the use of psoralen but there use without supper vision of expert has a high potential of side effects which may preclude their use.

Alternate treatments

Psoralens are a group of naturally occurring, substances, which can sensitize human skin to the tanning effect of UV light (Sun light), thereby enhancing pigmentation. It is for this important quality, that they have been used with success, to treat vitiligo since ages.

Psoralen is found naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, which is an important plant in the Ayuvedic system of Indian medicine. It is also found in common fig, parsley, West Indian satinwood and celery.

Oral Psoralen Therapy
It is commonly even as a domestic remedy for vitiligo, in which the plant Psoralea corylifolia is ingested in various recipes. A common example is soaking the planet parts in water over night and drinking the water in the morning.

The remedy is fairly effective when combined with sun exposure, but very few people will continue to use it because of the following reasons.

Extremely unpleasant taste
Large quantities are usually required for oral intake which is very
cumbersome
Intolerance and side effects in form of nausea and allergic symptoms
Unwanted over pigmentation of the whole body
The pigmentation is usually temporary which is lost gradually on cessation of treatment
Precautions: Psoralen is a very potent substance, and should not be used without adequate knowledge in its use.

Topical psoralen therapy
Application of the medicine on target skin area is a very vise and convenient alternative to oral ingestion. It can sensitize the skin even locally, which would subsequently gain color on sun exposure.
Various methods of local applications are recommended by different authorities e.g. extracts, oils and concoctions. In which the substance is used alone or in complex recipes along with other herbal materials.

Anti-Vitiligo which is currently the most potent treatment for vitiligo contains psoralean corylifolia in the strength of 8% W/W, along with three other constituents which modulate and enhance the action of this photo sensitizer. This combination has yielded almost permanent re-pigmentation compared with the temporary effect of oral psoralin threpy.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy like the allopathic medicine believes vitiligo to be a systemic disease, with localized expression. They however differ in the treatment approach, because homeopathy does not offer any localized topical remedy. It aims at detection and restoration of abnormalities in the constitution of the body. This necessarily means that the patient has to be treated and supervised by homeopathic professional.

Ayurvedic
Ayurvedic includes herbal/ natural remedial systems in addition to certain other disciplines like surgery and use of heavy metals. The treatment approach for vitiligo is similar to herbal/ all natural approach. Some of the experts also recommend therapeutic vomiting and purgation for vitiligo.

Prescription Medicine

Prescription medicine use either topical steroid or psoralen and oral psoralen. Prescription medicines are those therapies which are regulated by public laws and their sales is generly prehibted without prescription form a medical professional. Their advantages and side effects are scientifically studied and have a large evidence base to back them up. The main disadvantage how ever they are very expensive and not as effective in vitiligo as some of the herbal products are.

Topical Steroid Therapy
Steroids are fairly potent suppressor of immunity and can hence be of benefit in auto-immune diseases. They are commonly used in the form of topical creams and ointments during the early stages of vitiligo. Milder steroids are used for the children and potent ones for the adults. They are usually recommended for a period of three months and the effect is generally temporary. Local and systemic side effects may limit the use of these agents for prolonged duration.

Steroids are chemically related to cortisol, the major hormone produced by adrenal glands. They are less potent than psoralen photochemotherapy in the treatment of vitiligo.

Psoralen Photochemotherapy
Psoralens are a group of naturally occurring, substances, which can sensitize human skin to the tanning effect of UV light (Sun light), thereby enhancing pigmentation. It is for this important quality, that they have been used with success, to treat vitiligo since ages.

Psoralen is found naturally in the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, which is an important plant in the Ayuvedic system of Indian medicine. It is also found in common fig, parsley, West Indian satinwood and celery.

Surgical Therapy

Autologous skin grafts
The pigment containing skin from one area of the body is surgically shifted to an area where there is no pigment. The success is usually no predictable and the result may more un-acceptable than the base-line. When the cost, the hassle and the risk of surgical complication like scarring and infection are added, it becomes a fairly risk option to go for.

Skin grafts using blisters
It is a variation in the technique of skin grafting, in which blisters on the pigment containing skin are artificially created and then cut out to be transplanted at the required site. The risk of scaring is less than the standard technique but success in the form of re-pigmentation is not very encouraging.

Autologous melanocyte transplants
The pigment containing skin from one area of the body is surgically shifted to an area where there is no pigment. The success is usually no predictable and the result may more un-acceptable than the base-line. When the cost, the hassle and the risk of surgical complication like scarring and infection are added, it becomes a fairly risk option to go for.

Tatooing
Tattooing is used as a camouflage technique, but it is done with artificial pigments which are deposited into the skin, with the help of traditional tattooing needles or by surgical techniques in present scientific era. The accuracy of color match shall depend upon the skill of the person doing it. It will work best for darker skins, and the color may become lighter with the passage of time. There are risks of serious infections spreading through tattooing through traditional methods. Tattooing should only be carried out by certified licensed professional.

Source: http://www.antivitiligo.com/