Vitiligo is a common skin
disorder of the auto immune type which forms white patches on the patients’
skin. This is caused due to the de-pigmentation of the skin. De-pigmentation
occurs when the skin lacks melanin. Melanin is a bodily substance produced by
melanocytes. When the formation of melanocytes is interrupted or they are
destroyed, the patient’s skin loses color as a result of which certain body
parts turn white. Vitiligo has also been diagnosed in children recently.
Research has shown that excessive
dependence on junk food and the relationship with other auto-immune diseases
such as Diabetes, Hyperthyroidism and Alopecia have become contributing factors
towards Vitiligo. It is now important that parents should keep a watch on the
diet of the children. Some eating guidelines should be formed by adults who
include a healthy combination of vegetables and should be overall a
supplementary diet which helps to improve the children’s immunity system.
The Parent’s Role
Parents play a very important
role in the treatment of Vitiligo in children. It is their responsibility to
provide adequate awareness to the child about his/her disease. Most parents
fail to do this and leave the child to suffer on its own. As a parent, you
should remember that certain environments may get stressful for your child if
he is suffering from Vitiligo. The disease is also a common issue among
children who are 11-17 years old. People falling in this age bracket are
usually teenagers who are very picky about their appearance. Vitiligo may not only lower their self esteem
but also leave them helpless when it comes to facing their social circles.
In situations like these, it is
the parents’ sole responsibility to look after their child and do not let
him/her fall into depression due to Vitiligo.
Vitiligo Treatment for Children
The parents should be aware that
a disease such as Vitiligo cannot be completely cured. The child should also be
should be taught that a 100% eradication of white spots is just next to
impossible. However, certain treatment methods control the formation of white
patches and start the re-pigmentation process in the child’s skin. The
treatment methods that are most suitable for children are:
UVB Treatment
The UVB method has proved to be a
promising one for treating Vitiligo in children. It is safe, efficient and
harmless since children may not be able to tolerate severe methods used for
treatments. This therapy involves radiation using narrowband UVB which is
conducted for at least a year.
Tropical Corticosteroid
Used for both children and
adults, the Tropical Corticosteroids method involves the use of tropical
combinations for the treatment of Vitaligo. Tropical combinations refer to such
creams and lotions which are prepared to control the de-pigmentation and enable
the process of re-pigmentation in the patient’s skin.
In addition to treating the child
medically, it is your job to him/her stable emotionally. Do not under any
circumstances force your child to cover up his Vitiligo patches. Also, do not
stop him/her from attending social gatherings. Allow him to be comfortable and
if signs of depression or withdrawal still persist, take help from an expert.
