Vitiligo is a skin condition that occurs when your skin loses its natural color or pigment and you would notice that patches of lighter skin appear. De-pigmentation can happen anywhere on your body. it is common to have Vitiligo on your hands. The skin condition varies among different people as some may develop larger patches, indicating that they are losing more color, whereas others may develop only a few patches. The condition can extend to other part of the body and even result in a portion of your hair turning white. People could start losing color around their eyes or inside their mouths. Dermatologist in Southlake is equipped to provide appropriate treatment according to the severity of your skin condition.
Vitiligo happens when melanocytes in the body, the cells that give you your hair and skin color, die. Scientists haven’t determined what causes the cells to die.
There is still no proven cause for Vitiligo. What you need to understand is that Vitiligo is not contagious or life-threatening. If you have started noticing lighter patches on the skin or someone you know is experiencing it, now is a good time to contact Dermatologist in Southlake urgently. Even though Vitiligo is not fatal, it could drastically affect other facets of your life, such as your self-confidence. You may no longer want to be in front of people or you could gradually start experiencing depressive moods. For certain people, Vitiligo might progress and become a lifetime condition, for which they would need to become resilient and develop effective coping mechanisms. For others, it is important to seek profession advice frequently. Dermatologist in Southlake can provide sufficient information on how to deal with the disease and possibly receive some medication.
Learning about Vitiligo is an effective coping mechanism, which Dermatologist in Southlake can help you with. While you could seek counseling with others who also have Vitiligo, there could be chances of preventing progression of the disease if you seek guidance from Dermatologist in Southlake. Also, Vitiligo does not affect your physical health.
Vitiligo is categorized into subtypes. In universal case, you lose most of the pigmentation but this is rare. In a generalized case, you develop patches on separate parts throughout the body. In a localized case, only a few spots appear in one or more areas of the body. Dermatologist in Southlake can help you by providing correct diagnoses and coping method. There is no way to diagnose how much pigmentation a person would lose. There could be no loss of pigmentation for years. The patches could become larger and other patches may appear. In rare cases, the skin patches may vanish on their own without treatment.
How is it diagnosed
Dermatologist in Southlake would examine your medical background and ask whether anyone in your family has Vitiligo. A physical exam could be conducted to assess affected skin. When you or someone you know has Vitiligo, you should discuss treatment options with a dermatologist in Southlake. The aim of treatments is to restore lost skin pigmentation. Dermatologist in Southlake would let you select a treatment option of your preference or one that works best according to your health, age, and the areas of the body where patches appear. Here are your treatment options.
- You could be given topical medicines to add color to your skin. As a result of this treatment, 45 percent patients confirm regaining color after six months. Some medicines could be combines to increase chances of recovery. Medicines could be effective on people with dark pigmentation. However, medicines could have side effects and cause skin to become thin and dry.
- Cosmetics could be used to hide lost pigmentation and cold include skin dyes, tanners, or makeup, which is an easy way to camouflage Vitiligo. Even though there are no side effects of using make up, you would need to devote more time to acquire a natural look.
- You also have PUVA light therapy option to restore lost skin condition. It can treat widespread Vitiligo and is nearly 75 percent effective in restoring lost pigmentation. It may not be as effective for hands and feet. Treatment may be required twice a week for at least a year. Your dermatologist will examine you to check for side effects.
- The light treatment uses light to restore lost color. You may be required to sit in a lit up box or get laser treatments. It can work effectively on hand and feet. Nonetheless, around 44 percent patients start losing color again after restoration from treatment. Those with darker skin may notice darker patches but the skin tone evens out after a few months. Patients need treatment twice or thrice a week.
It can’t be predicted how your body would respond to the treatment. A single treatment cannot work effectively for everyone. It is also possible that you experience different results on different parts of your body.
Here’s what you go do to manage Vitiligo
- If you have Vitiligo, protect yourself from the sun because your skin is prone to sunburns. Sunburns could aggravate Vitiligo. Sun rays also lead to spot on your skin, which can only be removed with de-pigmentation. Sun screen should be applied at least half an hour before going out. Moreover, your clothing should protect the skin from the sun. When your shadow is shorter than your frame, that’s when you know the sun is at its peak. Wearing sunscreen would help you feel more comfortable.
- You could use safe alternatives to add color to your skin, such as makeup, concealers, or dyes. Dermatologists recommend using products with SPF above 30, water-resistant and self-tanners that contain dihydroxyacetone. With time and practice, you can accomplish a natural look with makeup. You could check makeup tutorials online for Vitiligo skin that help get best results. If you feel unsure about the treatment options or how your should be managing your skin condition, interacting face-to-face with a dermatologist in Southlake can help you decide what is right for you. Your dermatologist would know better about Vitiligo and how it could be treated, tailored to your needs.