Introduction: Vitiligo is a depigmenting disorder of the skin, in which melanocytes (pigment cells) are attacked. Melanocytes produce melanin, which determine the color of the skin, hair, and eyes. When these cells are attacked, the skin color becomes significantly lighter. The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown, but the most probable cause believed (in this study) is an autoimmune reaction against the pigment cells.
Initial Observation and Question: In this study, Vitiligo is considered an autoimmune disease that has had a frequent association with other autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, type 1 diabetes, and Addison’s disease. Low Vitamin D levels have been associated with autoimmune disease such as type …show more content…
A successful treatment for pediatric patients with vitiligo was from a combination of topical calcipotriol and ultraviolet A (PUVA). Topical calcipotriol is a synthetic derivative of calcitriol, a form of Vitamin D. PUVA or photochemoherapy, is an ultraviolet radiation treatment used for severe skin diseases by exposing the skin long wave UVAs. Results of this combination in a previous study conducted saw 10 of 18 patients with marked to repigmentation on the lesion. The authors of this study used oral Vitamin D with topical tacrolimus, (the first method of treatment recommended when diagnosed with vitiligo) to test on pediatric patients of vitiligo. These two combinations have similarities, but different …show more content…
At the end of the six months of treatment, children in the vitamin D deficiency group were found to have higher levels of vitamin D and significantly low PTH levels with the combination method. Furthermore, the patients with combination treatement also had repigmentation in the lesions, but did not fully achieve repigmentation. Only three of the patients treated with tarcoliumus had some repigemnation, while the rest of the groups lesions sizes increased. None of the patients of either groups developed new lesions during the six months or increased
Initial Observation and Question: In this study, Vitiligo is considered an autoimmune disease that has had a frequent association with other autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, type 1 diabetes, and Addison’s disease. Low Vitamin D levels have been associated with autoimmune disease such as type …show more content…
A successful treatment for pediatric patients with vitiligo was from a combination of topical calcipotriol and ultraviolet A (PUVA). Topical calcipotriol is a synthetic derivative of calcitriol, a form of Vitamin D. PUVA or photochemoherapy, is an ultraviolet radiation treatment used for severe skin diseases by exposing the skin long wave UVAs. Results of this combination in a previous study conducted saw 10 of 18 patients with marked to repigmentation on the lesion. The authors of this study used oral Vitamin D with topical tacrolimus, (the first method of treatment recommended when diagnosed with vitiligo) to test on pediatric patients of vitiligo. These two combinations have similarities, but different …show more content…
At the end of the six months of treatment, children in the vitamin D deficiency group were found to have higher levels of vitamin D and significantly low PTH levels with the combination method. Furthermore, the patients with combination treatement also had repigmentation in the lesions, but did not fully achieve repigmentation. Only three of the patients treated with tarcoliumus had some repigemnation, while the rest of the groups lesions sizes increased. None of the patients of either groups developed new lesions during the six months or increased