What are the methods for treating vitiligo

Vitiligo, also known as white spots, is a sudden disease. There is currently no research to prove its genetic correlation. The impact of white spots on patients is mainly psychological and appearance, causing patients to feel psychologically lost, unwilling to go out, refusing to communicate with others, etc. Therefore, treating white spots is the patient's greatest wish. So, what are the methods for treating white spots?

Vitiligo is a common acquired localized or generalized skin depigmentation disease. It is caused by the disappearance of melanocyte function in the skin, but the mechanism is still unclear. It can occur in any part of the body, most commonly on the back of the fingers, wrists, forearms, face, neck, and around the genitals. It can also occur in the female vulva, mostly in young women.

1. Medication

(1) Oral administration of psoralen and its derivatives such as methoxsalen followed by exposure to ultraviolet light.

(2) Long-term use of large doses of vitamins such as B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin P.

(3) Treatments include drugs containing copper, such as 0.5% copper sulfate solution taken orally.

(4) Oral immunomodulator levamisole, intramuscular injection of freeze-dried Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral administration of bovine placenta, etc.

(5) Skin irritants are applied topically to cause inflammation of the skin and promote pigmentation. Commonly used ones include 30% psoralea corylifolia tincture, nitrogen mustard alcohol, phenol (pure carbolic acid), 25% to 50% trichloroacetic acid, and blister beetle tincture. This method is only suitable for small skin lesions, and blisters may appear on the lesions after application.

(6) Corticosteroids: Local packing treatment with various corticosteroids such as beclomethasone dipropionate ointment, halometasone cream, and triamcinolone urea ointment.

2. Surgery

Patients with stable skin lesions and no progression can undergo autologous epidermal transplantation.

3. Depigmentation therapy

It is suitable for those with large skin lesions that exceed more than half of the body surface area. 3% to 20% hydroquinone monobenzyl ether cream can be applied externally.

4. Physical therapy

Treatment is with narrow-wave ultraviolet light, long-wave ultraviolet light or 308nm excimer laser.