Finding an effective vitiligo treatment can be very demanding for vitiligo sufferers as there are plenty of options but very few seem to offer long-term and effective results. One breakthrough vitiligo treatment option has emerged in the form of micropigmentation or the camouflage tattoo method. This treatment is usually done on the most obvious and visible parts of the skin like facial skin or neck. Rather than eradicating the spread of vitiligo patches or treating vitiligo, this treatment is aimed only at camouflaging the de-pigmented look of vitiligo patches, i.e. this is only an aesthetic treatment.
Understanding Micropigmentation
The treatment uses an unusual approach of implanting artificial pigments into the skin, i.e. the skin’s outer layer is colored using a special technique. The equipment used during this method is very similar to devices used in specialized tattooing methods. In fact, the method in which the pigments are patterned in and around the vitiligo patches is also similar to the manner in which tattoo ink is manipulated when creating tattoo designs. This is why this treatment is often dubbed as ‘medical tattooing’.
The pigments used here have to be metabolically inert and are different from any kind of tattooing ink. These pigments are immune to the biological changes in the skin or changes induced by external factors, ensuring that the original shades of the pigment are retained for almost a lifetime.
Due to the highly-specialized and demanding nature of this procedure, the expertise and experience of the micropigmentation technician is critical to the results. The immediate results of this approach and its non-invasive nature have made it a preferred option for many vitiligo sufferers. The procedure is not very expensive and doesn’t require surgical sedation or hospitalization.
Micropigmentation Limitations
Micropigmentation vitiligo treatment is usually suggested among people suffering from non-progressive vitiligo, i.e. where new white spots or patches have ceased to surface and the existing patches aren't gaining in size. Among people with a history of herpes simplex virus infection or those who have tested positive for HIV, micropigmentation is not recommended. Similarly, people with a medical history of skin problems like psoriasis are likely to be refused this treatment.
