Types/Stages of Vitiligo
Vitiligo can be categorised into three main types. Each type can vary significantly in progression and severity:
Generalised Vitiligo: The most common type where white patches appear symmetrically on multiple parts of the body.
Segmental Vitiligo: White patches appear only on one side or part of the body.
Localised Vitiligo: White patches are restricted to one or two areas of the body.
Symptoms of Vitiligo
Symptoms of vitiligo include:
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White patches on the skin
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Premature whitening or greying of hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard
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Loss of colour in tissues inside the mouth and nose (mucous membranes)
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Loss of colour or change in colour of the retina (inner layer of the eyeball)
Tests to Diagnose Vitiligo
Skin disorder specialists use several diagnostic tests for vitiligo that include:
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Physical Examination: Our vitiligo treatment doctors conduct a thorough physical examination to look for characteristic white patches on the skin.
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Wood’s Lamp Examination: This helps in visualising the white patches more clearly under ultraviolet light.
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Blood Tests: These are done to check for other associated autoimmune disorders like thyroid disease.
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Skin Biopsy: In some cases, a sample of the patient’s skin is tested to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment or Surgery Options for Vitiligo at Apollo Hospitals in Bangalore
Some of the treatment options offered by vitiligo treatment specialists at Apollo Hospitals in Bangalore include:
Topical medications: These include corticosteroids and calcipotriene that can help in repigmentation of the skin.
Phototherapy: A treatment method using narrowband UVB light therapy that is effective for treating larger areas of the body.
Surgical treatments: Procedures like skin grafting and autologous melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation are utilised to treat segmental or localised vitiligo.