What is vitiligo and how can dexamethasone help?

Vitiligo a medical skin condition that causes the loss of your skin color in patches. One example is someone with very dark skin (such as an African American) whose skin becomes pale or extremely light (such as the skin of a Caucasian American). The extent to the color loss and the rate at which it progresses is unpredictable. Vitiligo can affect any (or all) parts of the skin on the body, including the face, a person’s hair, the mouth and lips, and occasionally (though rare) the color of the eyes. Your hair and eye color is defined by melanin. When the melanin cells are not functioning properly, have been compromised, or are dying (or have died), vitiligo is the result. Vitiligo affects people of all ages, races, and backgrounds, however, in people with lighter skin tones, it can often be harder to tell that they have vitiligo. While not a contagious or infectious disease, there is no cure for Vitiligo, however, there are treatments, such as dexamethasone, to help you manage the symptoms of vitiligo.

What is dexamethasone and how can it help treat the symptoms of vitiligo?

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid medication that helps to prohibit the release of components in the body that cause inflammation and skin irritations. Dexamethasone helps to reduce the symptoms associated with rashes, irritation, skin swelling and redness, and other skin conditions and diseases.

In clinical studies, it was proved that dexamethasone helps to reduce the symptoms of vitiligo when given oral dexamethasone. While studies are few and research is still being conducted, studies have shown that patients who used the oral dose of dexamethasone had fewer symptoms that arose and the severity of the symptom when they did occur was reduced. Low repigmentation was noted in some of the clinical studies, however, it was noted that while using the dexamethasone oral dose that depigmentation was either reduced or temporarily stopped in most patients.

While there is much to be studied and trial research to be done, many medical professionals believe that by using dexamethasone to treat vitiligo, patients have a more likely chance of being able to control, reduce or eliminate many symptoms of vitiligo all together.

These are some important things that you should know about using dexamethasone. Be sure to speak with your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any of the following while using dexamethasone. Patients who use dexamethasone may experience difficulty breathing, blurred vision, unexplained dizziness, weight gain, loss of appetite, depression, slow healing of injuries, excessive nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, muscle weakness, severe burning feeling at application sites (a minor sensation of burning is common), or any other unusual symptoms that started after you begin taking dexamethasone.

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