Frequently Asked Questions

What is Leucoderma?

Leucoderma is also known as vitiligo, it is an auto-immune disorder. Here the immunity of the body will damage the melanocytes, which is a pigment responsible for skin color, hence, white patches on the skin appear.

What are the signs and symptoms of Leucoderma?

Signs and Symptoms associated with Leucoderma are:

1. White patches on the skin (mostly on the skin most exposed to the sun such as arms, legs, face, etc)
2. Premature greying of the hair
3. Grey eyelashes and beard
4. Loss of color of the retina which causes changes in the vision and production of tears
5. Painful sunburns

What are the reasons for Leucoderma?

1.  Immune system attacks melanocytes
2. Heredity
3.  Severe sunburn
4. Stress
5.  Industrial chemicals exposure 

What are the treatment options available for Leucoderma?

Various treatment options are available for Leucoderma:

1. Topical ointments and creams
2. Medication therapy (Steroids and immunosuppressive agents)
3. Medical procedure (Photodynamic therapy)
4. Surgical procedures (Skin grafts, melanocyte transplantation) 

[NOTE:- Before, choosing the type of treatment, have a complete discussion with your doctor regarding the advantages, disadvantages and risks involved in each type of treatment.]

Who are the specialists for treating Leucoderma?

Certified and trained Dermatologists can treat Leucoderma.

How are Leucoderma patches recognized?

1. White or depigmented patches on the skin
2. Microscopic examination showing the absence of melanin
3. Enlarging centrifugally at an unpredictable rate

What are the side effects associated with Leucoderma Treatment?

1. Scarring
2. Infection
3. A bumpy appearance of skin
4. Failure to color the skin patch

What is the cost of Leucoderma Treatment?

Cost of Leucoderma depends on the following factors:

1. Age of the patient
2. The severity of the Hypopigmented areas
3. Experience of the specialist
4. Treatment approach opted for

Various approaches and their costs are as follows:

1. Topical ointments and creams: Rs.120 to Rs.9,500
2. Medication Therapy (Steroids and Immunosuppressive agents): Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000
3. Medical procedure (Photodynamic Therapy): Rs.7,000 to Rs.28,000 (Per session) 
4. Surgical procedures (Skin grafts, melanocyte transplantation): Rs.40,000 to Rs.95,000

Is Leucoderma contagious?

Leucoderma is not contagious. One person cannot get it from another person having leucoderma.

What is the difference between Leucoderma and Albinism?

Leucoderma is hypopigmentation that is not present from birth and the loss of pigment is in patches, which can be hidden through makeup. Whereas, Albinism is hypopigmentation is of the whole body present since birth and difficult to cover up.

What is lifestyle modification to be made to reduce the white patches?

1. Stress should be avoided
2. Hard soaps should not be used
3. 20-30 minutes of sunbath should be taken in the early hours
4. Creams, powders and other triggering cosmetic agents should not be used
5. Citric foods should be avoided such as tamarind, prawns, crabs, lobster, etc.
6. Salt (Sodium) should be completely avoided during Leucoderma treatment

What are the home remedies to treat or prevent Leucoderma?

Few home remedies to treat Leucoderma are as follows:

1. Consume water from a copper vessel
2. Eat figs and walnuts regularly
3. Basil leaves and the stem is also useful
4. Consuming ginger juice is beneficial 
5. Pomegranate leaves’ juice every morning is also beneficial
6. Babchi+Tamarind seeds (1:1) paste should be applied on the patches
7. Drinking buttermilk is also useful
8. Make a paste of black grams and apply it on the affected area. A gradual decrease in the hypopigmentation can be seen.