Interview transcription:

We interviewed Penelope Pratsou to learn what a person should do if they’ve been struggling with vitiligo for an extended period of time.

What should a person do if they have vitiligo and have been living with it for many years? What would you suggest they do first?

Penelope Pratsou: I would suggest that it’s never too late to come in for a consultation. I’d be more than happy to see you at any stage of your vitiligo journey.

The reason for that is, I’d want to take a good history, see how long this has been going on for and how it’s affecting you. It may be that you just want to know what is going on, you might want to have an explanation about what’s causing your vitiligo, or you might want to make sure that there’s nothing else wrong. That’s always important; to make sure that no other autoimmune conditions are present. This can sometimes be the case in patients with vitiligo, and that is simply a matter of the consultation and some simple blood tests.

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It may be that, you want to talk about what support you or your child want to have, and that could be in terms of emotional support, and I can guide you with regards to that.

You might wish to have some cosmetic camouflage for that, or you may want to pursue some more active treatments. Either way, whatever you want to know or want to look into with regards to your vitiligo, I’m here to guide you through that journey.

If you notice that you have any of the symptoms or conditions that we’ve just discussed, we invite you to book a consultation with Dr Penelope Pratsou. She’ll be able to assess your situation and give you a personalised treatment plan.

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About the author

Dr Penelope Pratsou | Consultant Dermatologist

MBChB, MRCP (UK) (Dermatology)

I’m Dr Penelope Pratsou, a skilled independent Consultant Dermatologist based in Berkshire. I have specialist expertise in the diagnosis and management of all skin cancers, and in performing mole checks. I’m a trained skin surgeon and remove skin cancers, moles, skin tags, cysts and warts.

I also have invaluable experience in dealing with all skin conditions, from the common skin complaints of acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis, to the rarer and more complex skin problems, having seen it all through years of NHS work.

After I obtained my Membership to the Royal College of Physicians, I undertook rigorous specialist training in dermatology, before being appointed as a Consultant Dermatologist at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading. There, I helped set up and lead a busy clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of suspected skin cancer. I was also actively involved in supervising and training both dermatology and GP trainees.

Alongside my increasingly busy private practice, I have maintained an NHS practice in Oxford in order to continue to engage with challenging cases and to develop my specialist interest in skin allergy.