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Suggest Treatment For Vitiligo Patches On Stomach

Posted on Mon, 24 Nov 2014

Question: I had developed 4-5 white vitiligo patches on my stomach and underarms about three years back. I took prednisolone for a few months and then tried narrow band UVB therapy for nearly a year , but there was only slight improvement and after some time it again increased to its original size and some new small spots also began to develop. I am now taking Gingko Biloba 60mg twice a day. I also have hypothyroidism for which I am taking Thyroxine sodium 75mcg daily for the last 5 years. Kindly advise further course of action.

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Combined medication and light therapy may benefit.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for asking Health care magic forum.
I have gone through your query.Light therapy is usually three times a week for long duration like 12 months.As you have finished with 1 year with slight improvement, a combination of medication psoralen which is taken orally and UV light therapy along with it will help you get more positive result.In this also light therapy should be taken thrice weekly.Duration of treatment will take 6 months to 1 year.You can also use topical calcipotriene a form of vitamin D along with light therapy.
Hope this may help you.Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (22 hours later)

As already mentioned, I had narrow band UVB therapy for nearly a year - thrice a week 40 minutes each sitting. However, 3 months after the therapy, the patches reversed to their original size. I also suffer from rheumatoid arthiritis and hypothyroidism, which get aggravated by medicines such as prednisolone. Is Gingko Biloba or any other herbal medicine/cream effective?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Gingko biloba is good to stop progression.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for your follow up query.

As you have rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disease your vitiligo is most likely autoimmune orgin. So rheumatoid arthritis should be controlled by proper therapy by regular follow up with a rheumatologist. Worsening of rheumatoid arthritis can worsen Vitiligo also. Corticosteroid therapy when judiciously used by a rheumatologist can be beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis.

Gingko biloba is effective in stopping progression of vitiligo. It is verified by a study conducted in 2003. It is also effective in rheumatoid arthritis. So you can use it.

You can use topical calcipotriene locally(a form of vitamin D) which is good in vitiligo. Tacrolimus you already using(tacroz forte) is effective in some.

Your problem is mainly progression which can be due to the associated autoimmune condition Rheumatoid arthritis. If that is controlled your progression of vitiligo might stop and therapy for existing vitiligo will be effective. If you go for UV light therapy then you can opt the one with psoralen which is more effective.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (10 hours later)

Thanks Dr. I understand that Psoralen is given with UVA therapy (PUVA). I was given narrow band UVB therapy.Is there a difference between the two, and if so, which is better for vitiligo?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
PUVA has more efficacy than UVB.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for your follow up query.

PUVA is more effective in vitiligo.
Hope this may help you.Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T