Vetiligo I want to know if it will last. details below ..?
hey im 16, cannot belive im doing this, but about 7 months ago I realized a white patch of skin on my upper left ab. Shortly after I got a little ring around my nipple. About 6 months passed and nothing had really changed, however, only recently I noticed a patch, at least I think that started in my arm. I was wondering, since it seems to be only on my half left the body, no large patches, but one arm, one in my AB, and 1 in my nipple, can not pass over the shoulders. and consumes maybe 2% of my body. I just wanted know if this is perhaps a less serious case, not overreach. My doctor told me that I should be getting much worse, but I do not know. Its been stressing me out. Also apparently, my doctor said most cases go away by themselves. Is this true?
Heres what I found: Vitiligo generally appears in one of three patterns: the pattern of coordination, the depigmentation is limited to one or a few areas depigmented patches segmental pattern of development on one side generalized body pattern-the most common pattern. Depigmentation occurs symmetrically on both sides. In addition to white patches on the skin, people with vitiligo may have premature graying of hair, eyelashes, eyebrows and beard. People with dark skin may notice a loss of color inside their mouths. Are patches of depigmentation spread? Focal pattern vitiligo and segmental vitiligo remain localized in one part of the body and do not spread. There is no way to predict if generalized vitiligo spread. For some people, the patches are not expanded. The disorder is usually progressive, however, and over time the white patches will spread to other areas of body. For some people, vitiligo spreads slowly, over many years. For other people, spreading occurs rapidly. Some people have reported depigmentation After additional periods of physical or emotional stress. ******************** It sounds like you have a segmental form of this, so It seems that is not extended. Good news! Your doctor is right! Because stress can be a factor in some cases, try to relax and the best we can. Focus on positive diagnosis that you have a less aggressive form of this. The website of the National Foundation Vitiligio, http://www.nvfi.org has online support groups and the latest available treatments. This sounds like a great tool to check to help relieve stress. The more educated you are on this subject, it fits better to conquer both emotionally and physically. Here are some of the most common treatment options: medical treatment a series of medical treatments, most of which are applied topically, can reduce the appearance of white patches with vitiligo. These are some of the most commonly used in the most: Topical therapy or steroid creams, steroids may be useful in repigmentation (returning the color to) white patches, especially if applied in the initial stages of the disease. Corticosteroids are a group of drugs similar to hormones like cortisone, that are produced by the adrenal glands. Doctors often prescribe topical corticosteroid cream for children under 10 years of age and a stronger one for adults. You must apply the cream to the white patches on the skin for at least 3 months before seeing results. Corticosteroid creams are the simplest and safest treatment for vitiligo, but are not as effective as psoralen photo (see below). However, like any medicine, these creams can cause side effects. For this reason, your doctor will closely monitor the contraction of the skin and stretch marks in the skin (spots or lines on the skin). These side effects are more likely to occur in areas where skin is thin, as the face and underarms or genital region. They can be minimized by using weaker formulations of steroid creams in these areas. Psoralen photochemotherapy, also known as psoralen therapy and ultraviolet A, or PUVA therapy, this is probably the most effective treatment for vitiligo is available in the United States. The goal of PUVA therapy is repigment white patches. However, much time and care must be taken to avoid side effects, which sometimes can be severe. Psoralen is a drug that contains chemicals that react with ultraviolet light to cause darkening of the skin. The treatment involves taking psoralen by mouth (orally) or applied to the skin (topically). Below are carefully timed exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet A (UVA) light from a special lamp. Usually, you will receive treatments at the doctor's office so they can be carefully monitored for any side effects. You should minimize exposure to sunlight at other times. Both topical and oral psoralen photochemotherapy are described below. Topical psoralen-photochemotherapy often used for people with a small number of depigmented patches affecting a limited part of the body, is also used for children 2 years of age and older who have localized patches of vitiligo. Treatments performed in the doctor's office under artificial UVA light once or twice a week. The doctor or nurse applies a thin coat of psoralen to your depigmented patches about 30 minutes before exposing yourself to UV light sufficient to convert the affected area pink. The doctor usually increases the dose of UVA light slowly over many weeks. Finally, areas roses fade and get a more normal skin color. After each treatment, wash skin with soap and water and apply a sunscreen before leaving the doctor's office. There are two major potential side effects of topical PUVA therapy: (1) severe burns and blisters, and (2) too much repigmentation or darkening (hyperpigmentation) of the treated patches or the normal skin surrounding the vitiligo. You can minimize the chances of sunburn by avoiding exposure to direct sunlight after each treatment. Usually, hyperpigmentation is a temporary problem that eventually disappears when treatment is stopped. Oral psoralen photochemotherapy used for people with extensive vitiligo (affecting more than 20 percent of the body) or for people who do not respond to topical PUVA therapy, oral psoralen is not recommended Children under 10 years of age, increasing the risk of eye damage caused by conditions such as cataracts. For oral PUVA therapy, you take one dose prescribed oral psoralen, about two hours before exposure to artificial light or sunlight UVA. If artificial light is used, the doctor adjusts the dose of light until the skin in the areas being treated becomes pink. Treatments are usually given two or three times a week, but never two days in a row. For patients who can not go to a center to receive PUVA therapy, the doctor may prescribe psoralen to be used with exposure to natural sunlight. The doctor will give you instructions care in carrying out treatment at home and monitor you during scheduled checkups. Known side effects of oral psoralen include burns, nausea and vomiting, itching, abnormal hair growth, and hyperpigmentation. Oral psoralen photochemotherapy may also increase the risk of skin cancer, although the risk is minimal at the doses used for vitiligo. If you are undergoing oral PUVA therapy, you should apply sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight for 24 to 48 hours after each treatment to avoid sunburn and reduce the risk of skin cancer. To avoid eye damage, including cataracts, also must wear protective sunglasses UVA for 18 to 24 hours after each treatment. Depigmentation, this treatment involves fading the rest of the skin on the body to coincide with the areas already white. For people who have vitiligo on more than 50 percent of their bodies, depigmentation may be the best treatment option. Patients apply the drug monobenzylether of hydroquinone (Benoquin monobenzone o *) twice a day to pigmented areas until they match. I hope this information helps! Good luck!
Vetiligo