Treatments of Vitiligo to Return Pigment
Vitiligo is a medical disorder that destroys the pigment in a person's skin and leaves white patches on different areas of the body. Several different treatment methods are used to restore pigmentation.
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PUVA
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PUVA (photochemotherapy) uses ultraviolet A (UVA) light and a medication called psoralen to treat vitiligo. The American Academy of Dermatology claims that this method is between 50 and 75 percent effective in repigmenting the skin. The immediate side effects are dry skin and itching. Extensive treatment results in premature aging and increases the risk of skin cancer, according to DermNet NZ.
Micropigmentation (Tattooing)
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Micropigmentation uses a tattooing process to repigment the skin. According to Medicine Net, the procedure benefits people with dark skin and is especially useful around the lip area. The website warns that it is difficult for a doctor to completely match a person's skin color because skin lightens and darkens with exposure to the sun.
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Skin Grafts
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Skin grafting involves removing sections of pigmented skin from one area of the body and placing it on the non-pigmented areas. The procedure is time-consuming and expensive, and it occasionally results in scarring, inconsistent pigmentation and a failure to repigment, according to Medicine Net.
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