1. What are the various treatments available for vitiligo?
The various treatment options for vitiligo include:
Sunscreens
Cover up with dyes or make-up
Healthy skin colour restoration using either spot treatment (topical corticosteroid or oxsoralen creams, mini grafting) or whole-body treatment (PUVA photochemotherapy (oral psoralens + UVA irradiation)
Bleaching using monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone 20% cream (Benoquin)
2. Can vitiligo be completely cured?
No, vitiligo cannot be cured entirely. The treatment intends to restore the standard skin colour, and it does not help in preventing the spread or recurrence of the disease and repigmentation carried out could last temporarily.
3. How long will it take to treat vitiligo?
Accurate treatment is required to see visible results in vitiligo. The treatment regimen is as follows:
Number of visits: 2-3 visits per week
Each visit is 1-4 minutes
Results start appearing after 2-3 months
4. Can surgical procedures help me treat vitiligo?
Yes, apart from phototherapy and medications, nowadays newer surgical techniques having high rates of success in restoring the pigmented skin are used.
5. Are there any home remedies for the treatment of vitiligo?
Home remedies to treat vitiligo include:
Topical application of ginkgo biloba paste or mixtures (lemon and sweet basil extract or turmeric and mustard oil)
Diet modifications
Vitamins and minerals supplementation