How China handles vitiligo
China is no stranger to Vitiligo with 10 million people who have the condition in the nation. This large number has been a key reason why China has taken serious measures to deal with vitiligo and continues to show a very different approach in comparison to other countries.
1. Dual track integration. China does not stay exclusive to modern treatment only and instead follows two pathways for the patient to simultaneously use. The first track is the western medicine track which tackles the issue from a purely scientific and medical perspective. The second track is the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to focus on a more ancient perspective.
2. Strong phototherapy standards. Phototherapy is one of the most effectives treatments for vitiligo but devices have an inconsistent approach towards creating UV lamps and other products specifically for the skin condition. To deal with this China specifically prioritises 308nm excimer laser treatments and narrowband UVB devices. This approach creates clarity for the patient and there is also a mandate to pair the phototherapy with vitamin D3 to accelerate the repigmentation process.
3. Surgical intervention. China provided autologous transplants for patients who have stable patches that don’t grow or reduce in size. This unique approach has proven to be very effective and the west seems to be far behind in terms of usage.
4. Rural education gap removal. Rural China is the place where vitiligo has the lowest medical treatment adoption rate and the highest psychological distress rates too. A key part of China’s strategy is to educate rural China and classify vitiligo as an autoimmune condition rather than a cosmetic one.
The proactive and multifaceted approach to vitiligo in China is definitely something to be commended and gives hope of breakthroughs in this space. We strongly recommend deeper investigation into further practises and discoveries that have been made by them.
