Help me find treatment for my mom's vitiligo.
December 7, 2006 6:59 AM Subscribe
Help me help my mother. She recently developed the skin condition vitiligo. There is
My dad has it, and my mom recently started showing minor patches of depigmentation on her hands and wrists.
My dad has had it for as long as I have memories of him, on his hands, and none of us really notice it anymore. When my mom started noticing that she was getting it, with little white patches on her hands and wrists, she was very distressed. It's different for a woman I suppose, but also my dad had learnt how to cope with it many years ago, and my mom is only now going through it. I'm pretty sure this means that I'm going to develop it also, but I am not worried, maybe I will be when I get it.
My dad doesn't seem to be interested in treating his, probably because he's had it since we had no access to treatment. However, because of changes with our financial situation, the possibility of treating it is now open.
I have done research about treatment, and I think the one most suitable for my mom is PUVA (psoralen and UV A) treatment. Do any of you have any first or second hand (no pun intended) experience with this treatment, and any issues arising from it?
We have relatives/friends in the US in NY and FL, so if anyone can recommend any dermatologists in those areas for treatment, it would be easier. Oh right, we're not from the US or Canada.
Also, can anyone give me a ballpark figure about the price for the treatment? I understand that it is probably going to take a few months, but that cannot be avoided.
Oh, we are also dark skinned, if you need that information. My mom is a lot darker than my dad, which is why she's more affected too. We are also all doing our best to assure my mom, and calm her fears regarding how this is going to affect her life, and what people think of her and us, because we are aware of the psychological impact this can have on someone.
My dad has it, and my mom recently started showing minor patches of depigmentation on her hands and wrists.
My dad has had it for as long as I have memories of him, on his hands, and none of us really notice it anymore. When my mom started noticing that she was getting it, with little white patches on her hands and wrists, she was very distressed. It's different for a woman I suppose, but also my dad had learnt how to cope with it many years ago, and my mom is only now going through it. I'm pretty sure this means that I'm going to develop it also, but I am not worried, maybe I will be when I get it.
My dad doesn't seem to be interested in treating his, probably because he's had it since we had no access to treatment. However, because of changes with our financial situation, the possibility of treating it is now open.
I have done research about treatment, and I think the one most suitable for my mom is PUVA (psoralen and UV A) treatment. Do any of you have any first or second hand (no pun intended) experience with this treatment, and any issues arising from it?
We have relatives/friends in the US in NY and FL, so if anyone can recommend any dermatologists in those areas for treatment, it would be easier. Oh right, we're not from the US or Canada.
Also, can anyone give me a ballpark figure about the price for the treatment? I understand that it is probably going to take a few months, but that cannot be avoided.
Oh, we are also dark skinned, if you need that information. My mom is a lot darker than my dad, which is why she's more affected too. We are also all doing our best to assure my mom, and calm her fears regarding how this is going to affect her life, and what people think of her and us, because we are aware of the psychological impact this can have on someone.
I've done lots of UVB phototherapy for psoriasis but never PUVA though it's been offered. These days it seems many doctors are doing bath psoralen which is safer than taking it orally, because less light needs to be used with it (= less risk of skin cancer.) Due to the light sensitivity psoralen causes the patient has to wear wraparound UV-protective shades during daylight hours, due to risk of cataracts.
What can I say, it's a pain in the ass. It takes a chunk out of your day to go in to a doctor's office or hospital, wait, get undressed, get the treatment, get dressed and leave. I'm not sure how frequent vitiligo treatments would be, but it's at least twice a week. It's an inconvenience and it's annoying that all kinds of people get to see you naked. I think you really have to weigh the kind of effects you see against the inconvenience it causes. You have to be pretty motivated for this kind of therapy.
I feel for your folks - I know first-hand how devastating chronic skin diseases are and how much of a toll they take on your self-image.
posted by loiseau at 9:19 AM on December 7, 2006
What can I say, it's a pain in the ass. It takes a chunk out of your day to go in to a doctor's office or hospital, wait, get undressed, get the treatment, get dressed and leave. I'm not sure how frequent vitiligo treatments would be, but it's at least twice a week. It's an inconvenience and it's annoying that all kinds of people get to see you naked. I think you really have to weigh the kind of effects you see against the inconvenience it causes. You have to be pretty motivated for this kind of therapy.
I feel for your folks - I know first-hand how devastating chronic skin diseases are and how much of a toll they take on your self-image.
posted by loiseau at 9:19 AM on December 7, 2006
« Older 80's industrial song on a mix-tape from Houston | Are digital photo viewer keyrings any good? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 7:48 AM on December 7, 2006