São José has the first laser system for the treatment of vitiligo and psoriasis in Latin America .

Once again, working hand in hand medicine and technology have brought relief to many patients who for years have tried to make peace with their skin. We are not talking about wrinkles or expression marks. The problem is much more serious. The problem is vitiligo and psoriasis, which until recently were only treated with medicines would only used to bring slow and partial results. Now, the treatment can be done by means of a new laser system called XTRAC EXCIMER, and São José dos Campos is the first city in Latin America to have this equipment.

XTRAC was brought to Brazil by the dermatologist Samir Arbache, of Dermocentro. The equipment, approved throughout the world, acts directly on spots caused by vitiligo and psoriasis. It reverses the process of depigmentation in vitiligo, and provokes a fast regression of the psoria lesions. Originally, XTRAC was used only in ophthalmology for the correction of myopia, but it was adapted and today it is used in dermatology as well.

In vitiligo cases, patients used to rely exclusively on medicines that could take up to ten years to obtain a little improvement of the problem. With the laser, the results can be achieved in months or even weeks – of course, it depends on the clinical situation of each patient. XTRAC is applied only in a doctor’s office, twice a week. Each session takes about five minutes and is painless.

Emotional Problems

Psoriasis and vitiligo are diseases directly related to emotional problems. Vitiligo is characterized by the appearence of white spots on the skin, and in most cases it is related to emotional traumas, such as car accidents or the loss of a loved one. "Generally, the patients are facing a profound condition of stress or sadness. And when they discover the first spot, they get even more anxious and enter into a vicious circle”, explains Dr. Arbache. When the patient notices the first signs of improvement, he gets out of this vicious circle and starts the virtuous circle of improvement of skin and emotion. Psoriasis, which causes red spots and peeling of the skin, especially in the region of elbows and knees, is related to stress problems and is more easily relived with laser treatment.

The vitiligo treatment lasts from six months to a year. The psoriasis treatment is quicker, about two to three weeks.

However, if the patient does not recover from the state of stress or sadness, psoriasis, as well as vitiligo, may return after the end of the treatment. “It is very important that the patient have psychotherapy sessions. The response to the treatment is then faster and more efficient,” says Dr. Arbache.

Source: Site São José dos Campos.