Can my uneven facial pigmentation after vitiligo be treated?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 19 years old. When I was younger, I had vitilgo issue, and I was taking an ayurveda medicine, but immediately we stopped it within three days since I spotted a dark spot on my left cheek. But then with other lifestyle change and food, I was cured from vitiligo, but the dark spot on my left cheek kept increasing for some years, like may be till my fifth grade and it stopped increasing but the spots are still in my left cheek, my half of my left cheek looks dark with scarterred spots over it, but the texture is just normal and healthy, but the pigmentation and spot is alone there.

If you compare my right and left cheeks, my right cheek looks normal, plump, and shiny, whereas my left side looks full of dark spots and pigmentation, but the skin is soft and of normal texture only. Are there any ways to treat these spots?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I read your query and understand your concern.

Based on the history you have described, this appears to be a benign, childhood-onset pigmentary condition affecting only one side of the face, rather than vitiligo or a reaction to the brief use of ayurvedic medication. In vitiligo, there are hypopigmented patches or white patches rather than dark patches on the body, which is not the case in your case, according to your history, which had dark patches.

The fact that the pigmentation began in early childhood, slowly increased for a few years, then became stable, and that the skin texture remains completely normal strongly suggests a developmental or segmental pigmentation disorder such as segmental lentiginosis, nevus spilus, or unilateral facial hyperpigmentation.

These conditions are harmless, do not spread after adolescence, and are not related to any internal illness. However, creams alone usually cannot completely remove such pigmentation, though they may help lighten it slightly and even out the tone. The most effective improvements come from proper sun protection.

To give you the most accurate diagnosis and guidance, I would need to see a clear photograph of the affected area. Please share a picture of both cheeks taken in natural daylight (without filters or makeup), so I can better assess the type of pigmentation and advise you on the most suitable treatment options.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.