How do you get rid of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis IGH?
What is the treatment for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?
- Cryotherapy — 5 second, single session, repigmentation visible by 4 months.
- Topical treatments — topical steroid, tacrolimus, topical retinoids.
- Procedural treatments — chemical peel, excimer laser, skin grafting.
What is the treatment for IGH?
Treatment modalities that may reduce the appearance of IGH include the topical steroids, tretinoin, pimecrolimus and dermabrasion.
What exactly is idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?
Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) is a benign, typically asymptomatic, leukodermic dermatosis of unclear etiology that is classically seen in elderly, fair-skinned individuals, and often goes unrecognized or undiagnosed. [1] Occasionally, IGH is aesthetically displeasing.
Can hypopigmentation be reversed?
There is no cure, and it is usually a lifelong condition. The exact cause is unknown, but it may be due to an autoimmune disorder or a virus. Vitiligo is not contagious. Treatment options may include exposure to UVA or UVB light and depigmentation of the skin in severe cases.
Is IGH permanent?
Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis The spots are permanent,” warns Dr. Shainhouse. Aside from causing brown spots, too much sun exposure also destroys the skin’s melanocytes that result in these light spots that often appear on the arms and legs.
Is IGH itchy?
The number of patches usually increases with time but individual lesions remain the same size, and cause no symptoms whatsoever except mild pruritus, in a few individuals.
Can I get rid of IGH?
Unfortunately, treating IGH is particularly difficult. At-home treatments are limited to topicals which require months of regular application to achieve even minor results. Professional treatments offer quicker and typically more superior results, however, even the best available options will not fully fade spots.
Can you tattoo over idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?
Treatment of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis with 5-fluorouracil tattooing using a handheld needle. It is a simple and original solution to treat challenging dermatosis.
How long does hypopigmentation last?
Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation is a benign (harmless) process but may have significant cosmetic and psychosocial implications. The condition usually resolves in weeks to months.
Will Sun help hypopigmentation?
Puvasol, topical psoralen, and ultraviolet light (natural sunlight or UVA phototherapy), may help speed the repigmentation of hypopigmented patches, particularly in cases caused by laser therapy.