Is melanocyte transplantation for vitiligo painful?

Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
Updated on January 28, 2025
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Vitiligo melanocyte transplantation is essentially painless. It mainly involves extracting small blisters from the abdomen using a cellular base, then clearing the blister fluid and using the blister's epidermis to cover the affected vitiligo areas. These vitiligo areas are first abraded with a machine until slight bleeding occurs, allowing the epidermis to be covered. There is essentially no pain. Melanocyte transplantation for vitiligo is generally suitable for patients in a stable phase, meaning the vitiligo has not changed for at least six months. It is recommended that during treatment, patients should combine oral medication with topical drugs and eat more black foods. Foods rich in vitamin C should be consumed in moderation.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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The term "progressive stage of vitiligo" refers to a phase in which the skin condition vitiligo is actively spreading, with new patches forming and existing patches expanding.

The progression phase of vitiligo, also known as its development phase, is characterized by the enlarging and whitening of the skin patches. This phase primarily signifies that the patches are expanding and becoming more pronounced in color. Vitiligo is related to factors such as reduced immunity, genetic heritage, copper deficiency in the body, or local injuries. Through proper treatment, the progression phase can gradually shift into a recovery phase, where melanin increasingly covers the white patches. Some patients may enter a stationary phase where neither medication nor lack of treatment changes the condition of the vitiligo; typically, if there’s no change for over a year, it enters this stationary phase. If it is determined that the vitiligo is in the progression phase, prompt treatment is crucial to prevent the condition from worsening, which could make treatment more difficult.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Can vitiligo be transmitted through blood?

Vitiligo is primarily caused by factors such as reduced immunity, genetic inheritance, copper deficiency in the body, or localized trauma. This disease is not contagious and cannot be transmitted through blood or by contact with each other. Once diagnosed, it is essential to seek standard treatment, which should include oral and topical medications from a conventional hospital's dermatology department, in conjunction with 308nm excimer laser therapy for quicker results. During treatment, it is also important to exercise regularly to boost the immune system and eat more black foods, such as black rice, black beans, black sesame, wood ear mushrooms, and other mushrooms. Foods rich in vitamin C, such as strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, pineapples, and mangoes, should be consumed in moderation. Maintaining a regulated diet and lifestyle habits can aid in the treatment process.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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How to diagnose vitiligo in babies?

Babies diagnosed with vitiligo generally need to be differentiated from the following diseases. The first is anemic nevus, which is a congenital hypopigmentation that often exists at birth. If you rub the skin in the affected area, it does not turn red, while the surrounding normal skin does. Another is achromic nevus, which appears at or shortly after birth, characterized by localized hypopigmentation that often follows the distribution of nerve segments, with blurry boundaries. Additionally, there is tinea versicolor, which tends to occur in hot weather, with hypopigmented patches that have a bran-like or scaly appearance and a positive fungal test. It also needs to be differentiated from pityriasis alba, also known as white pityriasis, which commonly appears on children's faces and has a slightly rough surface. Generally, vitiligo diagnosis still requires further confirmation through tests such as Wood's lamp, dermatoscopy, skin CT, and fungal examinations.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Can people with vitiligo eat watermelon?

People with vitiligo can eat watermelon. Watermelon has the effects of cooling and relieving heat, eliminating irritability, quenching thirst, and promoting urination. From the perspective of Western medicine, it has a diuretic effect, similar to water, and is a fruit commonly eaten in summer. Although long-term excessive intake of vitamin C is one of the inducers of vitiligo, especially when the daily intake exceeds 1-3 grams for several consecutive months, it can induce vitiligo. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, and it helps us clear free radicals in the body. These oxygen free radicals can damage the melanocytes in our body. Vitiligo is also caused by damage to melanocytes, reduced production or excessive loss. Therefore, some experts even use vitamin C to treat vitiligo. Thus, moderate consumption of fruits containing vitamin C, such as watermelon, has no negative impact. There is no need to avoid eating these fresh fruits entirely due to fear of potential effects.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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Can vitiligo develop into skin cancer?

Vitiligo is a condition where melanin is lost from the epidermis, leading to the formation of white patches on the skin surface; this condition is not related to the skin itself. Vitiligo generally progresses with an increase in the area and whiteness of the patches, or an increase in the number of patches on the body, but it does not develop into skin cancer. Once diagnosed with vitiligo, it is essential to seek standard treatment at the dermatology department of a formal hospital, because the treatment period is relatively long, requires long-term medication, and involves treatment with 308-nm excimer laser. During treatment, it is important to exercise to boost immunity and avoid spicy and irritating foods. Eating more black-colored foods and limiting the intake of foods rich in Vitamin C is advisable. Even after complete recovery, continuing medication for a while to consolidate the treatment is recommended.