Dealing with Vitiligo...

Created on 13th July 2009

Hina Solanki of Sol Cosmedics explains how medical tattooing could be a successful - and long-term - solution to the loss of pigment that comes with vitiligo

Vitiligo effects about 1-2 per cent of the population worldwide. It is a chronic skin disorder that causes loss of pigment, resulting in irregular pale patches on the skin and it appears when the melanocytes - the cells responsible for skin pigmentation - die or are unable to function anymore.

The precise cause of vitiligo is not fully understood. Some evidence suggests that it is caused by a combination of auto-immune, genetic, and environmental factors. Vitiligo can begin at any age, though about 50 per cent of people develop it before the age of twenty and it affects mostly darker skins.

Most people after finding out that they have vitiligo experience a range of feelings and emotions including shock, denial, anger, fear, isolation, depression and finally acceptance.  A lot of people can become overwhelmed by low self-esteem and lack of confidence and actually stop having a social life. Clients often say how they can't go swimming and do not look forward to sunshine anymore as the make-up applied to camouflage rubs off to reveal the light patches.

The solution
Medical tattooing, also known as cosmetic tattooing, provides a versatile - and long-term - solution to loss of pigmentation from vitiligo.

The medical camouflage procedure helps many people regain their confidence and really gives them a boost in life especially if the face and hands have been affected. The appearance of the vitiligo can be greatly improved by the correct blend of colours and the correct technique in applying the pigments in to the skin.  A few colours of pigment may be used to create a realistic end result.
CS&AM