Update Dic 2009

Well, now... I noticed the vitiligo is started to show up also in the anus area. Just when I was trying to take it easy with this condition on my penis! I have been taking again Ginkgo Biloba pills, that I read are good to slow down vitiligo, but there's no way of telling if it's actually working. Plus I haven’t seen a scientific document supporting that idea. I just tried it because at this point I hope there's a least some sort of placebo effect on me.

I probably won't continue taking Ginkgo Biloba, I am afraid it could interfere with other medication. I have been experiencing depressive episodes and I have had anxiety for years and I am starting to consider the idea of taking medication (meaning: antidepressants). Having so much chemicals in me makes feel already intoxicated, and then I don’t know which comes first, the anxiety or the vitiligo. Certainly the two are very connected now. Sadly I haven’t heard of scientific evidence telling that controlling your thoughts will actually improve or “cure” vitiligo. I guess it is just about changing your perception of the problem.

Update

The vitiligo spot is covering about 30% of the glands area. It is definitely more obvious, even when erect. I keep wondering how it would look like if the spot would cover the whole glands area. Maybe it could look OK. Some guys with dark skin have very pink glands, and... it looks normal.
I am remembering now that about six years ago o more I went to a dermatologist for another reason, but I had already started to notice the glans looking different, darker.... like burnt. Maybe it was just the depigmentation process starting to create contrast and making me believe it was getting darker when, in fact, it was the opposite.

I am not using the corticosteroid cream anymore. It doesn't really seems to do anything, plus I have read about the side effects of long term use (makes skin thinner).

I was prescribed Protopic, but I read about some people reporting skin cancer in the trials and I became too scared of the chances. Plus I have read about a lot of people having no results. Even the doctor who prescribed it to me said that it was something to try and keep fingers crossed for.

The last doctor I saw prescribed Lime Essential Oil, to be applied in the center of the affected area with qtips and then exposed to the sun light for about 2 minutes. I did that about 20 times... irregularly... because the area would turn very irritated... and it is a very sensitive area. I specially suspended it before sex activity times.... as it could be very uncomfortable and... maybe even unsafe to have while irritation happening in that area.

My boyfriend says it's ok.... he knows basically there's no cure for this. He says he hardly notices it, that it is in the "wrong side", meaning, it's not always noticeable. He's just being nice, of course. Well, I am thankful to have a partner who understands and supports me. But still... my self image is very affected.

Penis Vitiligo Group

For people who want to share stories and even pictures, here's the info for the group I have started.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/p-vitiligogroup/

Because there are pictures of this area of the body, you need to log in to verify that you are an adult.

From where I see it...

I'm in my early 30's, it started about a year ago.

When it's flacid the vitiligo area is more noticeable. It used to be less obvious when it was hard, not lately, now even when it is erect the vitiligo area can be noticed.