Best Vitiligo Doctors in Bangalore

Vitiligo is a disorder resulting in the loss of skin colour in blotches. It's caused by the destruction of melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its colour. The exact cause of vitiligo is not entirely known, but a mix of genetic, immune system and environmental factors appear to play a part. The disorder can appear at any age but often shows up before the age of 20. Vitiligo appears as patches of de-pigmented skin and hair, commonly affecting the face, hands, and feet. It affects all races and genders equally.

Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore, has a team of some of the best doctors for vitiligo treatment and renowned skin disease specialists adept at diagnosing and managing this disorder.

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:

• White patches on the skin

• Premature whitening or greying of hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard

• Loss of colour in tissues inside the mouth and nose (mucous membranes)

• 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:

• Physical Examination: Our vitiligo treatment doctors conduct a thorough physical examination to look for characteristic white patches on the skin.

• Wood's Lamp Examination: This helps in visualising the white patches more clearly under ultraviolet light.

• Blood Tests: These are done to check for other associated autoimmune disorders like thyroid disease.

• 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.