Vitiligo is a condition where the skin gets discoloured and loses pigment, resulting in appearance of irregular white patches. Factors responsible for Vitiligo, also known by the name of leukoderma, have not been completely explored and understood. There are a few options available to cure this disease to some extent, but a complete and permanent Vitiligo treatment is not known yet.

Phototherapy, which artificially tans the skin through limited ultraviolet radiation, is a frequently used Vitiligo treatment. The patient is required to use a substance called Psoralen either orally or by soaking the treatment area with it and the UVA rays are then directed at the affected area to stimulate melanocytes, the melanin producing cells.

As mentioned at the vitiligo treatments site, skin grafting is also considered as one of the better treatments. This is a surgical way of re-pigmentation the skin. In this treatment, a melanocyte graft is used to replace the white patch so that the pigmentation process can be restarted.

In the worst scenario, where almost all of the skin has become diseased, de-pigmenting the healthy areas is sometimes recommended. The de-pigmentation is done on cosmetic grounds, as after the procedure, the skin colour of the healthy and affected areas become the same. This however should be seen as the last option, and patients should refrain from it unless it becomes necessary.

Alternative Vitiligo treatments based on natural therapies are also available. Ginkgo biloba and oil extracted from peppermint are often recommended in such treatments. Several cosmetics, which hide the white patches, can also be found, and a specialist should be able to recommend some good products.

Patients suffering from the disease can get some degree of relief through the Vitiligo treatments mentioned above until further research into the matter can find a complete cure. With advancements in biotechnology, the chances of finding a permanent cure of the disease are increasing.