Understanding Vitiligo, A Little-Understood Skin Condition

SINGAPORE
-�Media OutReach - 25
June 2019 - For the past eight years, June 25 has been designated as World
Vitiligo Day to help increase awareness of a skin disease known as vitiligo
that affects about 1 in every 100 people around the globe.

Vitiligo
causes a person’s skin to lose its pigment, resulting in discoloured skin
patches, known as macules. The disease commonly occurs before 20 years of age.

While its
causes remain unknown, factors such as stress, genetic make-up, exposure to
toxins can trigger the skin depigmentation process.

Although the
skin patches are not life-threatening, they can affect the mental and emotional
well-being of vitiligo patients. Due to a misconception about vitiligo being
contagious, sufferers have been known to be subjected to bullying and even
social ostracism — causing many to suffer from low esteem and psychological
trauma.

Vitiligo
sufferers should do their utmost to cooperate with their doctors since early
and proper treatment can help stop the spread of discolouration and restore
pigment in many of the cases.

They should
also avoid self-medication or folk remedies, since these might not only be
inappropriate but even worsen their current situation.

One
specialist facility which provides a comprehensive range of treatment is the
Novena Vitiligo Medical Centre in Singapore (https://www.novenavitiligo.com).
It is the first vitiligo medical centre in Singapore and South-east Asia to focus
solely on the treatment of vitiligo using state-of-the-art technology.

At the
Novena Vitiligo Medical Centre, patients will be given customised treatment,
depending on their specific needs. Each patient will be given a thorough
assessment of his/her physical symptoms by doctors at the centre. Apart from
examining the size and extent of the depigmentation, the patient will also be
asked about his/her previous treatment history and lifestyle habits. Only then
will the doctors recommend the best treatment for the patient.

Medication —
Four types of exclusive medication, comprising a special blend of oral
antioxidants, are available.

Phototherapy
— It uses cutting-edge technology such as the Waldmann UV Therapy System or the
VTRAC 308nm excimer lamp. 

Grafting —
The centre offers both skin and blister grafting.  

Melanocyte
Transplant — Pigment-forming cells, or melanocytes, from healthy skin are
transferred onto depigmented areas.

The
existence of various treatment options can help vitiligo sufferers to regain
skin colour — and their self-confidence — and live life as they want it.