PUVA Light and Narrowband UVB Light Treatment for Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a condition where white patches develop on your skin. It is due to loss of colour (pigment) from areas of your skin. There are usually no other symptoms but the appearance of your skin can be distressing. Affected areas of skin can be covered by skin camouflage creams. Treatment has improved in recent years and in some cases the pigment can be restored.

PUVA Light Treatment for Vitiligo
PUVA treatment is used in some hospitals. It involves taking medication as well as light treatment. The letters PUVA stand for Psoralen and Ultra Violet light A. Psoralens are chemicals found in plants, which make the skin more sensitive to light (either natural sunlight or UVA rays). Psoralen may be given as capsules to swallow, one or two hours before treatment. It may also be given as a lotion to paint on the white skin patches or to dissolve into bathwater (in which you have to soak for a short period before UVA treatment). You should not take psoralens if you are pregnant.
Because psoralen makes your eyes sensitive to sunlight, you need to wear dark glasses to protect your eyes for at least eight hours after taking the capsule. You also need to be careful that you are not taking or using other substances that are making your skin more sensitive to the UVA rays. These substances include some medicines, including complementary or herbal medicines. They also include coal tar or disinfectant soap and some deodorants, perfumes and aftershaves.
Narrowband UVB Light Treatment for Vitiligo
Narrowband UVB is now the most common type of light treatment for the treatment of vitiligo. It uses light of a specific UVB wavelength, which has proved to be to be more effective than using standard UVB. There are a number of advantages over PUVA. Narrowband UVB treatment:
Does not require additional medication, so you do not need to take special precautions before and after treatment.
The normal skin does not develop the deep tan usual with PUVA treatment, so the contrast between normal skin and the treated vitiligo skin is less obvious.
Exposure to the light is for much shorter periods.
The different light source reduces the possible risk of skin cancer.
UVB treatment does not tend to damage the skin nearly as much as PUVA can.
It is a safer treatment for children than PUVA.

Treatment studies suggest that it is a more effective treatment than PUVA.

The Better Diet Treatment For Vitiligo

Due to vitiligo the lack of control over your body’s appearance can at times makes you feel helpless and devastated. However, food is one area where you can try to make some positive changes in your life that are likely to help control the spread of the disease. Although there is no particular vitiligo diet, a balanced, healthy blend of nutrition from all food groups can be a good way of revitalizing your skin and boosting your immunity, confidence and self-esteem.
People with vitiligo may be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals such as B12, folic acid, and zinc, according to the Vitiligo Support International. Before taking any supplements to replenish lost nutrients, try eating foods that are rich in them. Vitamin B12 can be found in meat, dairy products, fish, and shellfish. Folate, the natural form of folic acid, can be found in fruits, dried beans and peas, and fruits. Zinc can be found in beef, shellfish, nuts, and legumes.

Some of the food groups that are vitally important in your quest to beating Vitiligo:
Meat is the main source of protein, but it is important to balance your intake with other proteins such as soy beans, bananas, watermelon, leafy lettuce and sunflower sprouts.
Don’t listen to all those nay-sayers when it comes to oils and fats. Consuming the right oils and fats can boost your cardiovascular system, as well as your immune system.
Omega 3 fatty acids are an essential part of the anti Vitiligo diet. These essential fatty acids offer a number of health benefits, including better circulation levels, prevention of inflammation and boosting your immune system. Some sources of Omega 3 include salmon, walnuts and avocado.
When selecting fruits and vegetables to include in your diet, make sure to go as colourful as possible. Opt for beetroots, spinach, dark green leafy vegetables and carrots.
Drink plenty of water, at least 2 litres a day.
Avoid the bad stuff for vitiligo patients
The foods mentioned above will help greatly in your fight against Vitiligo, but they can only do so much. While including as many of the above in your diet, you also need to avoid certain foods that will make your symptoms worse.
Some of the foods that have been linked to Vitiligo are:
Some people are allergic to Gluten without ever knowing it. You might be suffering from infammation because of this, while not experiencing any outer signs of this allergy. This can cause havock on your immune system.
Acidic foods, such as lemons, can increase the acid levels in your stomach. This imbalance can worsen your symptoms.
There are certain vegetables, called Nightshades, that cause inflammation, and have been known to cause Vitiligo. Some of these nightshades that you should avoid is: tomatoes, white eggplant, paprika, potatoes and tobacco.
Processed foods should be avoided as much as possible. These are high in unhealthy preservatives, which has a negative impact on your immune system.

Fast foods and soft drinks can be found around every corner, but they are some the biggest culprits in your diet. These are very bad for your skin, and those sugary soft drinks will slow down your metabolism.

Diet Treatment for Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a genetic, autoimmune skin disorder in which a loss of skin pigmentation results in white patches on various parts of the body. Current treatments are aimed at stopping or slowing the progression of lost pigment. Manipulating one's diet may be helpful in managing certain skin conditions, such as vitiligo. People with vitiligo may need to follow a special diet to prevent the condition from worsening or to replenish any nutritional deficiencies that may occur.

Vegetables and fruits on top
Antioxidants, phytochemicals, beta carotene in these bounties of nature support your immunity, promote healthy skin and may aid in the pigmentation process. Antioxidants and beta carotene neutralize free radicals and protect against their damage.
The major antioxidant nutrients are vitamins A, C, E, folic acid, polyphenolic flavonoids and some minerals like selenium, copper and zinc. Apples, bananas and citrus fruits are some great choices and must be included in your vitiligo diet. However, blueberries and pears should probably be limited or avoided as they contain natural hydroquinone, which are de-pigmenting agents.
Never let your Vitamins go
A couple of research studies across the globe have discovered that vitiligo patients may have vitamin deficiencies, especially of the B12 vitamin and folic acid.
You can replenish your body by eating vitamin-rich foods. Vitamin B12 is found in meat, poultry, eggs, soy milk, dairy products, fish, and shellfish. Folate, the natural form of folic acid, is found in fruits, dried beans and green vegetables. Ensure that you get enough vitamin D and C as they’re essential for healthy skin.
You can get vitamin D naturally from moderate sunlight exposure as directed by your doctor. Moreover, foods like oily fish, cod liver oil, liver, milk, eggs, cheese, margarine, some milk powders and yogurts and some cereals are fortified with it. Citrus fruits are your go-to option for ample vitamin C. Studies have shown that Folic acid and vitamin B12 work in conjunction with vitamin C to aid in the pigmentation process.
Must Minerals
Copper, iron, zinc and calcium all play a role in the pigmentation process. Higher levels of zinc and copper have been shown to reduce premature greying hair. Low levels of both these minerals along with reduced iron levels have also been found in de-pigmented skin. Iron also has a role in the activation of tyrosinase which is an enzyme requiring copper and is essential in the pigmentation process. Zinc, an important mineral can be found in beef, shellfish, nuts, and legumes. Calcium, found in dairy products is another important nutrient for overall healthy functioning of your body which will ultimately impact your skin in a positive way.
What you can avoid

Turmeric, used as a seasoning in Eastern foods especially, has been shown to cause problems for some people, so you might consider limiting or avoiding its use.

308-nm Excimer Laser Treatment of Vitiligo

The Excimer 308 is new laser technology that delivers a specific wavelength (308nm) of UVB (Ultraviolet B) radiation. The light itself generates a monochromatic light in the ultraviolet range.

The treatment with XeCl-excimer laser generated 308-nm UVB radiation has shown promising results in patients with vitiligo.
Vitiligo is an acquired cutaneous hypopigmentary disorder, which characterized by solitary or multiple depigmented maculae or patches. The 308-nm excimer laser has been used as phototherapy on vitiligo.
The disease is associated with considerable morbidity because of a major impact on the quality of life. The treatment for vitiligo is generally unsatisfactory and challenging. There are a variety of therapeutic possibilities including topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, as well as phototherapy with Psoralen plus UVA (PUVA), narrow-band UVB, and a 308-nm excimer laser and/or lamps. Furthermore, surgical methods encompass grafting and transplantation while depigmentation treatments and psychological support may also be considered. The objective is to assess the effect of the 380-nm excimer laser in the treatment of vitiligo based on the available studies and case series.
The 308-nm excimer laser showed equivalent efficacies to 308-nm excimer lamp control and NB-UVB control concerning ≥75% re-pigmentation rate of vitiligo patches. More studies with high methodological quality, low risk of bias and more sample size are needed to confirm the conclusion.

To determine the true efficacy of the 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of vitiligo, while taking into account confounding factors such as anatomic site of treatment, age, sex, skin type, MED, and duration of evolution of the vitiligo.

Natural Cure For Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a naturally occurring skin condition in which you will see white spots on skin in large swaths or isolated patches. These white patches result from a loss of melanin (the natural dye that gives our hair and skin their particular colors) in those particular skin cells. Vitiligo patches often expand over time, without treatment. Vitiligo symptoms also include greying or whitening of hair, including the eyelashes, and potentially lightening of color in your eye's retina.

The various effective treatments include PUVA, narrow-band UVB light, chinese medicine etc.
Phototherapy
A quick answer to the question of curing vitiligo fast is phototherapy. This medical procedure, also known as PUVA, utilizes the combination of psoralen and a UVA light. Thirty minutes after the topical ointment psoralen is applied to the affected area, it is exposed to the UVA light. At first, the skin will be a pinkish color before it returns to its normal color. For best results, this treatment should be done at least once or twice a week. However, phototherapy works best for individuals with vitiligo on less than 20% of their body.
A simpler procedure to PUVA is the utilization of the UVB light, which does not require psoralen or any other product. This treatment is still relatively new, so medical professionals are still researching potential side effects.
Chinese medicine Cure Vitiligo

According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, generally speaking, the universe is in a balanced state, so is the human body. And also the human body is also affected by the universe. And once the balance inside the human body is broken, the human body will response accordingly. Vitiligo happens also because of imbalance in human body due to some reason. So, traditional Chinese medicine doctors consider all those factors and regulate the imbalance inside the patients so that they can recover through immunity of human body of patients. And the medicine and therapies traditional Chinese medicine doctors use are all natural treatments which also focus on the original causes.

Treatment and Management For Vitiligo With Chinese Medicine

Vitiligo is painless and benign. The goal of treatment is to restore pigment to your skin, which is cosmetic. Treating vitiligo is a long-term commitment. Most therapies don’t show results for several months. Treatments include the following:

Steroids
Topical medications can be effective ways to repigment the white patches of skin. Topical steroid medications are used in children and adults. Steroids must be applied to the skin daily for at least three months before you can expect to see results. Steroid creams can have some adverse effects, including a thinning of the skin or streaks of color on the skin.
Immunomodulators
Another group of drugs called immunomodulators may also treat vitiligo. These are ointments that contain the active ingredient tacrolimus or pimecrolimus. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who have small areas of pigment loss on the face and neck usually see results with immunomodulators.
Ultraviolet Light
Ultraviolet light therapy can restore pigment in some people with vitiligo. Most often, you are required to take a medication called psoralen, which causes the skin to be more sensitive to the light treatment. Psoralen is available in both topical and oral forms. The combination of psoralen and UVA rays is called PUVA treatment. It darkens the light areas of your skin.
Since you’re more sensitive to sunlight when using psoralen, you should protect the rest of your body with sunscreen. You can get PUVA treatment several times per week in your doctor’s office.
Depigmentation
When repigmentation of the white patches fails, depigmenting the rest of your body is another treatment option. Depigmentation is reserved for those who present with vitiligo on more than half of their body. The goal is to match your normal pigmented skin to the areas affected by vitiligo.
A medication called monobenzone is applied to your skin to lighten the pigmented areas. This topical medication can bleach the skin of other people who may come into direct contact with you. Therefore, skin-to-skin contact must be avoided for two hours after treatment.
Noninvasive management of vitiligo can include makeup and sunless tanners. Tanning doesn’t help restore pigment loss from vitiligo, according to the NIAMS. Tanning makes the difference between normal and depigmented skin tone more obvious. You should use sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection to protect your skin.
Surgery Options

In severe cases, you may elect to have surgery to try to restore normal skin tone. Skin grafting takes healthy skin and places it in an area that has been affected by vitiligo. Such surgical procedures are possibilities for people whose vitiligo hasn’t improved despite several years of consistent treatment. The surgery is expensive, rarely covered by insurance, and can cause scarring.

World Vitiligo Day 2016

What is World Vitiligo Day?

World Vitiligo Day is the global Awareness Day for Vitiligo.
It’s a day that many organisations are working hard to raise the awareness of. It aims to spread the word about vitiligo, gaining awareness of the disorder and increasing support for those with it – something that is lacked in all countries.
When is it?
It is celebrated globally on June 25th every year.
Why June 25th?
This date has been proposed in memory of Michael Jackson – one of the most well-known vitiligo sufferers. VITSAF has argued that he was widely misunderstood and mocked about a condition he had no control over – and for that, believe its time to show people the real vitiligo, it’s effect and what it’s like for the millions of people who actually have it.
What can you do to help?

You can help by supporting VITSAF by getting involved in the campaign – as well as spreading the word and mustering up as much support as you can. Please click here to sign the petition.