Laser May Help Erase Stigma Of Vitiligo – Wake County – MyNC.com
RALEIGH, N.C. –
Most of America first heard about the skin condition called vitiligo because of Michael Jackson. but for folks like Omar Bradley, vitiligo is a way of life.
Bradley first noticed pale blotches on the skin around his mouth about six years ago. More recently, the spots showed up on his forehead and scalp as well.
“It’s a mysterious autoimmune disorder,” said Dr. Fernando Puente, of Raleigh Dermatology. “Your body, for whatever reason, decides to attack the melanocytes, which are the pigment forming cells of your skin.”
Puente said vitiligo is not physically harmful to patients, but it can be socially devastating. while Bradley hasn’t let his condition change his life, he has had to adjust to curious looks.
“Most of the time, people are just wondering what it is, because they have no idea,” said Bradley. “I think that’s the part of the reason why most people with vitiligo are uncomfortable.”
Vitiligo flareups are unpredictable, happening almost overnight. Puente said there is no conclusive evidence as to what causes the condition, but it is triggered by stress. Most patients treat their skin with steroid creams to keep the white patches from growing, but Puente is one of two dermatologists in the country offering a new laser treatment to treat vitiligo.
The XTRAC Velocity laser takes traditional ultraviolet light therapy, which also is used to treat psoriasis, and focuses it in intense bursts on the affected patches of skin. the light stimulates repigmentation.
“This has been really exciting because now we don’t have to expose the entire body to the light,” said Puente.
Bradley said the sessions, which last only a few minutes, feel like intense heat. but aside from some redness, he hasn’t had any side effects. Puente said it may take as many as 10 sessions for vitiligo patients to see results, though the treatment has been shown to work faster for psoriasis patients.
The procedure is typically not covered by insurance, so patients have to pay out of pocket – sometimes as much as $1,000.
Laser May Help Erase Stigma Of Vitiligo – Wake County – MyNC.com