Can vitiligo be cured?

Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
Updated on June 19, 2025
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Vitiligo can be cured through long-term treatment in clinical settings, though it tends to be easier to treat when the affected area is small. Treatment can be quite challenging when the condition is widespread throughout the body, and often sufferers with extensive areas give up on treatment. Vitiligo is somewhat linked to reduced immunity, genetic factors, and a deficiency in copper within the body. Once vitiligo appears, it is crucial to seek professional treatment in the dermatology department of a regular hospital. Generally, a combination of topical and oral medications, along with 308 nm laser treatment, can be effective. During the treatment period, it is important to exercise to strengthen immunity and consume black foods to increase melanin. Foods rich in vitamin C should be consumed minimally, and spicy or stimulating foods should be avoided, as well as staying up late.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
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Can people with vitiligo eat mangoes?

Patients with vitiligo can eat mangoes, as mangoes benefit the stomach, quench thirst, and promote urination. They are rich in vitamins A and C. Although long-term excessive intake of vitamin C-rich foods or medications is one of the triggers for vitiligo, vitamin C is also an antioxidant. It can help the body eliminate oxygen free radicals, which can damage our body's melanocytes. Melanocytes are a key factor in vitiligo. Therefore, consuming a moderate amount of vitamin C-rich fruits has little impact on vitiligo; there is no need to avoid them entirely.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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What should I do about vitiligo?

Vitiligo belongs to a category of pigmentary disorders, which can affect social interactions and psychological well-being to some extent, but does not affect health and growth. Therefore, it is necessary to approach this condition with scientific rationality. First, it is important to prevent skin trauma, rest adequately, stabilize the body's immune status, and manage sun protection. Symptomatic treatment includes oral administration of drugs such as compound glycyrrhizin tablets and folic acid tablets. Tacrolimus ointment should be applied externally to the lesions. Treatment can also be supplemented with traditional Chinese medicine, including Bai Ling tablets and Qu Bai Ba Bu Qi tablets, although liver and kidney functions must be monitored. Additionally, therapy may include 308 nm excimer laser irradiation, two to three times a week, for a total of 10 to 14 sessions per treatment course.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Is the appearance of white spots on the back vitiligo?

White patches on the back are not necessarily vitiligo; they could also be tinea versicolor. Tinea versicolor is caused by a fungal infection, generally contagious, and may gradually increase in number after the appearance of one. Additionally, these patches are somewhat blurry in color, not the porcelain white typically seen with vitiligo. If it is vitiligo, the situation is more complicated, and it is necessary to seek formal treatment at a dermatology department of a standard hospital. In the current situation, it is advisable to visit a dermatology department in a formal hospital and use a Wood's lamp or dermatoscope for differential diagnosis to definitively determine if the condition is vitiligo. If it is tinea versicolor, applying antifungal cream alone can completely cure it. If it is vitiligo, a comprehensive treatment is required, involving oral and topical medications, along with 308-nm excimer laser therapy.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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How to determine if the white patches on the face are vitiligo

The most common diagnostic methods for vitiligo currently are the Wood's lamp and a dermatoscope. If white patches appear on the face, it is best to visit the dermatology department of a formal hospital for an examination with a dermatoscope and Wood's lamp, which can essentially determine whether it is vitiligo. If the white patches appear around the mouth, beside the nose, or near the eyes, there is a higher probability that these are vitiligo. If the white patches develop on the eyebrows or where there is hair, and if the hair also starts turning white, it can generally be confirmed as vitiligo. If diagnosed with vitiligo, it is necessary to seek treatment promptly. Generally, a combination of oral and topical medications along with 308 laser treatment can be quite effective. Additionally, some facial white patches may simply be pityriasis versicolor, which is somewhat related to fungal infections.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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What are the advantages of epidermal grafting for vitiligo?

Epidermal grafting is suitable for vitiligo in its stable phase, where patches on the body have not changed for at least six months and have not improved with treatment. At this stage, one can opt for epidermal grafting, which involves relatively minor trauma and is not too costly. The local growth of melanin is rapid, and the results tend to be favorable for patients in the stable phase. During the treatment period, it's essential to avoid spicy and irritating foods, consume more black-colored foods, avoid excessive intake of vitamin C-rich foods, enhance physical exercise to boost immunity, and keep the treated area dry and free from friction to prevent melanin loss.