Vitiligo Treatment
If vitiligo is making you unhappy or is severe, you might want to seek treatment. The white patches appearing due to vitiligo are generally permanent. Although there are plenty of treatment options to cover or reduce the appearance of white patches due to vitiligo. However, the treatments might help restore color to the skin but the effects do not last long. In addition, treatment for vitiligo cannot stop the condition to spread further. Following are some treatment options available for vitiligo:
Topical steroids
Topical steroids are available as an ointment or a cream for direct application to your skin. These can sometimes help in stopping the spread of the discolored patches and might restore some of your natural skin tones. An adult might prescribe a topical steroid if:
- They are not pregnant
- They have less than 10% of the non-segmental vitiligo on their body
- They understand and agree to the possibility of side effects
- They accept further treatment such as camouflage and sun protection creams
A general physician might prescribe an ointment or cream depending on where your discolored patches are and what you prefer. Creams are better for application on your joints such as inside your elbows while the ointments are greasier. Some popularly prescribed steroids for vitiligo include:
- Hydrocortisone butyrate
- Fluticasone propionate
- Betamethasone valerate
A general physician can teach you the correct method to apply the ointment or cream to your white patches and the quantity you can use. Topical steroids have a standard unit of measurement known as fingertip unit (FTU). One FTU is the quantity of topical steroid one adult can squeeze on his or her fingertip and it’s enough to treat a skin area twice the size of a hand of an adult.
Side effects of topical steroids include:
- Thinning of skin
- Lines or streaks in the skin
- Excess hair growth
- Visible appearance of blood vessels
- Acne
- Inflammation of the skin