vitiligo

Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder, similar to hypopigmentation. When the cells in the skin that produce pigment are unable to function properly, vitiligo may occur.  Vitiligo may appear as lesions of the skin that have less pigment, oftentimes appearing white. There are multiple patterns in which vitiligo may occur, including generalized, segmental, and focal. Limiting sun exposure and wearing sunscreen from both A and B spectrum of UV may help reduce the appearance of vitiligo.

Symptoms can include:

• Patchy loss of skin color
• Premature whitening or graying of the hair on your scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard
• Loss of color in the tissues inside of your mouth and nose
• Loss of or change in color of the retina

Vitiligo can start at any age but often starts appearing before the age of 20. The condition doesn’t appear to affect one part of the body more than others and can appear all over the body or only on specific parts of your body. 

While there isn’t a total cure for vitiligo, laser treatment can reduce its appearance. 

Vitiligo is the growth of depigmented skin, resulting in patches of skin that are significantly lighter than your normal skin tone. Treatment using the Excimer laser helps to regain your normal pigmentation faster. The Excimer laser works particularly well in reducing the prominence of vitiligo on dark skin.

The Excimer laser emits concentrated ultraviolet light. In addition to their work in the treatment of vitiligo and psoriasis, they can also be used for refractive eye surgery by ophthalmologists.

More on how the 308 Excimer, used by physicians at the Laser Skin and Surgery Center of New York, works:

“Narrow-band UVB light therapy is considered the most effective approach for the treatment of vitiligo- with the fewest side effects. The EXCIMER 308 achieves results that verifiably match those of an excimer laser, restoring pigment in the affected skin. With selective application of UVB radiation on the lesions, surrounding healthy tissue remains.”