Vitiligo
Vitiligo Treatment In Malaysia
Have you noticed white patches forming on your skin? Are you wondering if you have Vitiligo but aren’t sure about it? Maybe this blog can help clear some of your doubts. We at Dr Ko Skin Specialist invited Dr. Melody to share her knowledge on Vitiligo.
Firstly, what exactly is Vitiligo? According to Dr. Melody, Vitiligo is a long-term skin depigmenting disorder, which means your skin may be lacking in pigment cells or having dysfunctional ones. Patients suffering from Vitiligo tend to notice white patches appearing on their skin. Although it is not a life-threatening condition, Vitiligo can be cosmetically disabling. Many suffer from depression due to the occurrence of Vitiligo.
Vitiligo can either affect a small part of the skin or spread to involve a larger skin surface. The progression of Vitiligo varies. Some Vitiligo is generally stable and does not actively expand, while some Vitiligo may progress aggressively to involve every inch of the skin.
Vitiligo can affect any part of the skin, but certain areas are more commonly involved. Vitiligo commonly affects the skin around the eyelids and the mouth, skin over the hands, and body folds.
Why do I get Vitiligo? A common question asked by patients. Dr. Melody explains that most of her patients ask whether Vitiligo results from a certain food they consumed or products they applied to their skin. The truth is, the exact cause of Vitiligo is still unknown. Current evidence suggests that our body’s immune cells destroy the skin’s pigment cells. Instead of protecting our body from foreign invaders, patient with Vitiligo might have dysfunctional immune cells that recognized own pigment cells as foreign, and therefore destroying them.
Although Vitiligo is not life-threatening, studies show that patients with Vitiligo are generally at higher risk of having other autoimmune conditions, such as diabetes, SLE, and autoimmune thyroid disease.
How do I know I have Vitiligo? Dr. Melody explained that a doctor could diagnose most Vitiligo by taking a thorough history and a detailed skin examination. Tools such as Wood’s lamp are helpful to ascertain the diagnosis. Occasionally, a skin biopsy may be warranted.
Is Vitiligo Contagious, doctor?
No, Vitiligo is not contagious. It will not spread from one person to another. One should not worry about contracting Vitiligo from a patient suffering from it. It causes unnecessary stigma to those with Vitiligo, which may lead to more significant psychological trauma to patients.
Treatment of Vitiligo
Various treatment options are available for Vitiligo. Often, a combination of treatments gives the best result.
A doctor often uses a combination of oral and topical medications to halt disease progression, phototherapy, and other topical creams to encourage repigmentation. Vitiligo usually requires several months of treatment before repigmentation.
Dr. Melody’s advice to those with Vitiligo is to get professional advice early to halt disease progression and have a better chance of recovery.
DR CHEONG NYUK LI (Melody)
MD (UPM)
Medical aesthetic certification (MAC)
