Lets count days till we reach our goal (Depigmnetation)

Hello everyone,

My name is Maria. I am 27 and having vitiligo since 20 yrs now. I decided to Depigmentation my remaining pigments (I am already 50%). I started this discussion for those who wants to count days and share their updates of their Depigmentation journey.

Its my second day today, I am using it Benoquin 20% twice a day, although my doctor asked me to use once at night. But i guess twice a day is normal. I am starting it from my face (i dont have any vitiligo on face) My ears are already turning white, my chest having new patches too, my legs are full white, few patches on tummy and back, 50% vitiligo covered my hands too. I decided to use on face because i want my face to change color gradually and evenly. I felt some burning for about 5 minutes yesterday and today. Right now i am wearing cream it also dried my skin little. I have oily skin so i didnt feel using mosturizer till yet. I am using Ozone SPF 100 when outside. This cream absorb quickly in skin and burn my skin for 5 mins that's it.

I really hope, i will see result in few weeks.

Please share your progress here so we can discuss things together.

Thanks

Hi Vinod,

Remey has given very good advice to read through complete overview of depigmentation process available at depig forum section at http://vitiligosupport.org.

Regarding your particular questions

1. The amount of whiteness is same for everyone at the end. In order to match your pigmented skin to vitiligo skin shade, you need to remove/ kill the pigment in total in your pigmented skin. The amount of monobenzone and duration of application varies from person to person. I've seen people getting depigged in few months compared to few who take upto 3-4 years. On average 12-18 months is enough to achieve depigmentation. Some people tend to stop too early thinking they are satisfied with the tone of skin near the end of the depig process. This usually results in recurring repigmenting and feckles. One should continue to apply for 3-4 months even after they think they are "done".

2. No need to apply on lips, scalp, genitalia, underarms etc.. i didn't even apply on my back and still got depigged completely all over. The monobenzone works systematically and will finish the job. keep the application as convenient to you as possible, just like applying daily moisturiser to your skin. that way you can do it for months without putting much effort.

3. Hair mostly remain black. For people below 50, some of them may turn grey at the application site during the application process but eventually will turn black again once the process is over. That's what happened to me and by body hairs are still black.

Replies

Jackie O November 19, 2018 at 10:08am

This is in response to an old post by Fay regarding the arbitrary 50% rule:

I said the same thing, and like you, less than 50% of my body was depigmented. I did not let anyone get in the way of my goal: complete depigmentation. The challenges are numerous when depigmenting, from trying to find a physician who will write the prescription to actually finding one who knows how to use it correctly for complete and expedient depgimentation to locating a pharmacy. I know you posted this quite some time ago (the year I completed depigmentation therapy) , but I hope you finally got what you wanted.

Blessings,

Jackie
Jackie O November 19, 2018 at 10:06am

This is in response to an old post by Fay about the arbitrary 50% rule:

I said the same thing, and like you, less than 50% of my body was depigmented. I did not let anyone get in the way of my goal: complete depigmentation. The challenges are numerous when depigmenting, from trying to find a physician who will write the prescription to actually finding one who knows how to use it correctly for complete and expedient depigmentation to locating a pharmacy. I know you posted this quite some time ago (the year I completed depigmentation therapy, which was 2010) , but I hope you finally got what you wanted.

Blessings,

Jackie
Jackie O November 3, 2018 at 12:43pm

To Ali Marie's response and everyone else on this thread:

I said the same thing, and like you, less than 50% of my body was depigmented. I did not let anyone get in the way of my goal: complete depigmentation. The challenges are numerous when depigmenting, from trying to find a physician who will write the prescription to actually finding one who knows how to use it correctly for complete and expedient depigmentation to locating a pharmacy. I know you posted this quite some time ago (the year I completed depigmentation therapy) , but I hope you finally got what you wanted.

Blessings,

Jackie
vinod November 2, 2011 at 7:31pm

Thanks Remey, this info is extensively usefull.

So have more questions -

1) will this cream in anyway (or in future) be a reason for any typoes of cancers etc.. or does this have any other side effect ( i havent found anything on the Internet Literature or from websites you suggested)

2) does this need to be done in consultation with a dermatologist or is it as easy as buying this cream and start applying. Will dermatologists support this openely ?

Thanks, with new hopes about getting rid of vit,

Vinod
vinod November 1, 2011 at 9:37pm

i have the following questions about depig -

1) does the amount of whiteness depend on the amount (or duration) of monobenzyne cream being apoplied?

2) do we apply this cream to lips, scalp area as well ?

3) waht about hairs ? how to ensure that hairs remain black on teh scalp (or skin ) when we depigment ?
- Sanjay > vinod November 2, 2011 at 7:00pm
  
  Hi Vinod,
  
  Remey has given very good advice to read through complete overview of depigmentation process available at depig forum section at http://vitiligosupport.org.
  
  Regarding your particular questions
  
  1. The amount of whiteness is same for everyone at the end. In order to match your pigmented skin to vitiligo skin shade, you need to remove/ kill the pigment in total in your pigmented skin. The amount of monobenzone and duration of application varies from person to person. I've seen people getting depigged in few months compared to few who take upto 3-4 years. On average 12-18 months is enough to achieve depigmentation. Some people tend to stop too early thinking they are satisfied with the tone of skin near the end of the depig process. This usually results in recurring repigmenting and feckles. One should continue to apply for 3-4 months even after they think they are "done".
  
  2. No need to apply on lips, scalp, genitalia, underarms etc.. i didn't even apply on my back and still got depigged completely all over. The monobenzone works systematically and will finish the job. keep the application as convenient to you as possible, just like applying daily moisturiser to your skin. that way you can do it for months without putting much effort.
  
  3. Hair mostly remain black. For people below 50, some of them may turn grey at the application site during the application process but eventually will turn black again once the process is over. That's what happened to me and by body hairs are still black.
Anika Simpson January 25, 2011 at 5:57am

Hi Maria, Good luck with the process. I just started mine about 4 months ago and I have bought maybe 3 tibes, they are fairly expensive and no insurance (from reading posts- seems like that wouldn't of matter anyway) so I was trying to stretch out the tubes especially since I just lost one of my p/t jobs the week before x-mas (don't get me started on that! lol

I am not sure if its the cream of just my body (which was losing color rather rapidly when I decided to go ahead with depigmentation) but I have seen results pretty quickly and consistently. I am not no where near 50% but my doctor let me due to where my spots where and the overall likelihood that I would ever repigment in those areas.

I agree with everyone else... be patient and try not to get overwhelmed by disppointment or that it is not going as fast as you may like... get support from the forum and give support to, it helps you a lot.

p.s. The cream I find to be tough to absorb so I use lotion to spread it on. and I stopped putting it o9n my face spots because it burns, so if I put it on my face, I never put it on the white spots.
GRACIELA RUIZ January 18, 2011 at 8:26am

Does insurance cover depigmentation?
- Brandy Sutherland > GRACIELA RUIZ January 20, 2011 at 2:08am
  
  Graciela....my insurance does not...I pay out of pocket...they claim its not an approved vitiligo treatment...I wish they would reconsider!
  - GRACIELA RUIZ > Brandy Sutherland January 20, 2011 at 2:47am
    
    Around how much is it and what is the time frame for depigementation.--example the face?

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