Monobenzone is sometimes used to achieve lighter skin tone. However, monobenzone is not for everybody. Monobenzone was actually created for people with vitiligo. Vitiligo is a skin disease which affects 1 out of 100 people. If you suffer from vitiligo, your melanocytes are basically damaged. Melanocytes produce melanin which gives our skin its color.
You will eventually notice white patches in your skin, affecting various parts of the body including the hair and insides of nose and mouth. This is called universal vitiligo. Nevertheless, it can be also generalized or segmental. The former refers to the existence of white patches in symmetrical forms and the latter refers to the existence of such in half of the body.
The cause of vitiligo is not known and there are few theories that exist relating to the cause of such. There are some known causes but these are too general. These are: genetically-related, environmentally-related and due to autoimmune abnormalities. As such, vitiligo can affect anyone regardless of the color of the skin. Vitiligo is not also age-dependent though it was developed even before the person turns 20. Finally, vitiligo is not contagious hence you will not catch it when you had a direct contact with a person with vitiligo.
Monobenzone refers to a depigmentation agent recommended for people with extensive vitiligo. Monobenzone is administered to the person with bigger white patches that a repigmentation would only be useless. Monobenzone is very effective in killing melanocytes so that it’ll no longer function. In this way, the skin’s color will stay that way through the use of monobenzone.
With continued use, say about a year or two, monobenzone can yield pigment-free skin. It will even out the skin’s complexion, and the vitiligo sufferer may no longer have to experience white patches. The pigment-free skin must be carefully maintained though. Sunlight must be avoided as much as possible. We all know that melanin is produced when you are exposed to the sun. You might be wondering how this can be possible for a pigment-free skin. The answer is that monobenzone penetrates the epidermal and dermal structures but not that follicle reservoir which can also produce melanin. Wear sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher or wear protective gears when you go out.
Yes, I have seen vitiligo in very rare people but it’s truly a bad disease..is there any permanent treatment for this?