The Key Things You Must Know Before Vitiligo Laser Treatment at Yeongdeungpo Station Dermatology

Summer is now in full swing.

The season of summer is more than just hot weather; it is a time when the skin can be exposed to many small and large assaults.

Strong ultraviolet rays under the blazing sun can be a major factor causing significant damage to the skin.

That is why many people prepare a defense against strong UV rays by using sunscreen, sun sticks, and sun sprays all at once to protect their skin.

Of course, consistent sun protection can help maintain skin health.

However, no matter how perfect your sun protection may be, our skin is affected every moment by the external environment and by internal conditions in the body.

In particular, when the immune system inside the body malfunctions, various chronic skin diseases can arise, and everyday life can easily be disrupted.

The skin condition introduced today at Yeongdeungpo Station Dermatology is vitiligo, which occurs due to an overactive immune response.

-Column outline from Yeongdeungpo Station Dermatology-

1. The effect of the immune system on the development of vitiligo

2. How to prevent the onset and worsening of vitiligo

3. Vitiligo excimer laser treatment

Vitiligo: Looking at the cause from within the skin

The outwardly visible "lack of pigment" caused by vitiligo actually begins with a very complex immune system problem.

Inside the skin are cells called melanocytes, which diligently produce the pigment called melanin. This helps maintain skin color and protects the skin from ultraviolet rays.

However, when a problem occurs in the immune system, the immune system attacks the melanocytes that were functioning normally, and the pigment in various parts of the skin can noticeably fade.

Because of this, if you have an autoimmune disease such as a thyroid disorder, diabetes, or rheumatism, symptoms of vitiligo may appear more easily than in others.

Therefore, if you are dealing with such symptoms, it is advisable to maintain healthy skin by consistently managing your daily habits.

How can the onset and worsening of vitiligo be prevented?

As mentioned earlier, vitiligo often occurs due to an overreaction of the immune system.

Therefore, making an effort to maintain a healthy immune system can help prevent the onset of vitiligo.

In particular, if you are not getting enough sleep or are under excessive stress, the immune system may become overactive and the pigment in various parts of the skin may fade. For this reason, it is advisable to manage stress by getting enough sleep and rest in daily life.

It is also good to maintain a "healthy diet" rich in nutrients.

In addition, vitiligo sometimes begins in areas where the skin has been injured, that is, areas exposed to friction or scratches, so you should be careful to avoid unnecessary irritation to the skin in everyday life.

The last thing to introduce is UV management.

Ultraviolet rays can not only stimulate melanin but also cause various skin problems, so it is a good idea to apply sunscreen carefully on a regular basis.

Also, during the summer when sunlight is strong, it is advisable to physically block UV rays by using a parasol, sunglasses, and similar items.

Information about vitiligo excimer laser treatment

Melanin that has once disappeared does not naturally regenerate.

Therefore, if white patches suddenly begin to appear on the skin, it may be advisable to plan treatment before it gets any later.

Vitiligo excimer laser treatment is a treatment method that uses 308 nm ultraviolet light, and its characteristic is that it induces the creation of new cells by stimulating melanocytes.

In addition, by regulating excessive immune responses, it can be expected to improve the underlying cause of vitiligo.

On top of that, because it targets only the problematic melanin, it has the advantage of causing less effect on the surrounding skin tissue.

However, vitiligo symptoms do not disappear completely after just one treatment, so it may be advisable to establish a long-term treatment plan.

Also, the treatment interval and number of sessions may vary depending on the patient’s skin condition, so please plan treatment after consulting with the medical staff.

Because vitiligo does not usually come with significant pain or itching, it is difficult to notice the symptoms early.

However, since vitiligo symptoms can gradually worsen over time, you should regularly check your skin condition and prepare appropriate response measures.

Also, different treatment methods may be applied depending on the degree of symptom progression and the extent of the lesions.

Therefore, do not insist on just one treatment method; please undergo a diagnosis while considering as many possibilities as possible.

I hope this column from Yeongdeungpo Station Dermatology has been helpful for patients who are stressed by vitiligo symptoms, and I will end the post here.

Thank you for reading to the end.

| This post was written for informational purposes in compliance with Article 56, Clauses 1 to 15 of the Medical Service Act. All treatments carry the risk of side effects and complications depending on the individual. Before treatment, please be sure to make a full consultation with experienced medical staff before making a decision. |