Best Vitiligo Doctors in Chennai

Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterised by the loss of melanocytes, the cells responsible for giving skin its colour. As a result, individuals affected by this autoimmune disorder experience white patches on their skin. While the exact cause remains unknown, scientists believe it to be an interplay of genetic and environmental factors.

In Chennai, there has been an increase in vitiligo cases, which experts attribute to environmental influences and genetic predisposition. The best doctors for vitiligo treatment and skin disorder specialists at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai provide comprehensive care for those suffering from this condition.

Types/Stages of Vitiligo

Vitiligo manifests in different forms, each with unique characteristics:

• Generalised Vitiligo: This most common type involves white patches appearing over various parts of the body.

• Segmental Vitiligo: With this type, white patches appear only on one side of the body and progress rapidly before stabilising.

• Localised Vitiligo: This type affects limited areas of the body and tends to remain static over time.

Symptoms of Vitiligo

People with vitiligo might experience several symptoms, including:

• The appearance of well-defined, smooth white patches on the skin, often on the face, hands, and feet.

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

• Loss of colour in the tissues lining the inside of the mouth and nose.

• In some cases, individuals may also experience inflammation of the eye (uveitis) or hearing loss.

Tests to Diagnose Vitiligo

Vitiligo treatment doctors at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, utilise several diagnostic tests to confirm a diagnosis:

• Physical Examination: A dermatologist examines the individual's skin for characteristic white patches.

• Wood's Lamp Examination: This ultraviolet lamp illuminates vitiligo-affected areas, aiding in diagnosis.

• Blood Tests: These tests check for other autoimmune diseases associated with vitiligo, such as thyroid disease.

• Skin Biopsy: A small sample of skin is taken and examined under a microscope to confirm the absence of melanocytes.

• Eye Exam: This test checks for uveitis, an inflammation of the eye that can sometimes occur in individuals with vitiligo.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Vitiligo at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai

Skin disorder specialists at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai are committed to providing world-class care and offer comprehensive treatment plans for vitiligo, which may include:

• Topical Medications: These include corticosteroids, tacrolimus ointment, and calcipotriene applied to the skin to stimulate repigmentation.

• Phototherapy: Narrowband UVB light therapy is used to treat larger areas of the body.

• Surgical Treatments: For those with segmental or localized vitiligo, surgical options such as skin grafting and autologous melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation are available.

• Systemic Therapies: Oral corticosteroids may be prescribed to slow the disease's progression and restore skin colour.