Melanocyte Tranplantation: A New Way to Treat Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder where a certain area or areas of the body loses its color. This happens when melanocytes, or cells responsible for the color of our skin, hair, and eyes, stop functioning or even die. The discoloration may affect anyone at any given time, any age, and any gender. Though there is no known cause for this condition, doctors believe it may be an immune system disorder and may be hereditary in nature. The first symptom occurs when patches of your skin start to lose its color and gets lighter. It may appear in random areas all over the body, on only one side of the body, or on only a small area of the body.
No matter where the patches of skin discoloration are, ultimately, those affected find ways to be treated. The most common remedy is to cover up affected areas with beauty products and cosmetics. Use of sunscreen is also greatly encouraged as affected areas are more sensitive to sunlight. Change in one’s diet may also help: increased intake of copper, beta-carotene and other nutrients, and avoid caffeine. Reducing stress may also prove useful in managing this disorder. Phototherapy is also a popular choice for treatment; it exposes the patient to ultraviolet B lamps, accomplished in multiple sessions. Amongst all the suggested treatments, melanocyte transplantation proves to be most promising.
Melanocyte Transplantation basically addresses the disorder from its root: acquiring a healthy, pigmented skin sample, and implanting them to the patient’s affected area. This surgical technique has a truly remarkable success rate of 95%. There are multiple methods for transplantation:
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In transferring a non-cultured melanocyte suspension, a specimen is obtained and treated to obtain a solution with melanocytes. This solution is then applied to the affected areas. What makes this method great is that a small skin specimen may be used to treat much larger affected areas.
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Transferring of cultured melanocytes differs from the previous procedure such that the specimen obtained is treated multiple times to obtain melanocytes, in which they are cultured for a couple of days. This is advantageous for very large affected areas, and the cultured cells could then be frozen and used further in the future. This method may be more costly since laboratory equipment is needed, and may take longer due to cell culture.
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Suction blister grafts is another method where suction devices are used to form blisters on normally pigmented skin, and is then transferred to the affected area. UVB phototherapy aids in the completion of this method. This is a quick method that takes more or less 2 hours.
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Ultra-thin epidermal grafting replaces depigmented epidermis with pigmented epidermis harvested from the buttock area. This method is possible for some areas.
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Miniaturic punch grafting makes use of very tiny skin samples and grafted into affected areas.
To know which method is most suited for you, it is important to consult with a doctor who has experience treating vitiligo patients, preferably one at a center that can perform melanocyte transplantation. A proper evaluation and assessment of your condition is vital in the success of the treatment.
Author Bio: Rana Tarakji is an entrepreneur and a contributing writer at One SEO, a digital marketing company in Lebanon, Beirut. Rana is passionate about digital marketing, startups, helping entrepreneurs grow, and empowering them to live their dreams. She has worked as a marketer, a technology co-founder and business developer, and a writer.