Nov 2025: vitiligo treatment
35th time-Nov 6
It has been quite some time since my last visit to the clinic with my son. While my son undergoes laser treatment, the doctor and I engage in a brief conversation.
The doctor will be attending a conference for approximately two weeks. He mentioned that there should be no issues with continuing the laser treatment, as the other doctors at the clinic are fully capable of providing excellent care.
This clinic employs four dermatologists, which offers a good selection of practitioners, and another doctor will cover for the absent physician in this instance.
I am interested in understanding the laser strength used for my son, particularly if we were to consider visiting another clinic for treatment.
The number of laser applications for his hand is 270, and for his face, it is 190. Interestingly, the total number of applications could potentially exceed 500 due to the overlapping nature of the laser beams. Furthermore, the cost of excimer laser treatment presents a significant financial consideration, exceeding 140,000,000 won.
36th time-Nov 10
The doctor I typically see was not available at the clinic this time. I was wondering who I could consult for his treatment.
The Chief Director of the dermatology clinic, a woman, kindly recognized my son by name and displayed gentle gestures.
She was not entirely familiar with the precise points on his chin and cheek, which were not clearly visible, and I had to indicate the missing spots for laser exposure.
She treated the area on his hands with a high-density laser, and I observed some redness on his hand after the treatment. This redness subsided within a few days, and he experienced no discomfort.
It was an unusual experience to receive laser treatment from a different doctor, even within the same clinic. It was a positive experience to have another doctor administer laser treatment, especially since the doctor typically in charge of him was not present.
37th time-Nov 13
I had my first appointment with a new doctor today. It seems I had the opportunity to meet all the doctors at this clinic during this visit.
All of the doctors were kind and generous. However, the one distinction between them and my son’s usual doctor is that his regular physician has a deeper understanding of the specific areas my son requires treatment, as we have been in communication for several months.
With the other doctors, we haven’t had sufficient time for such in-depth conversations. I’ve come to realize that my son might experience lip pain after laser treatment.
I suspect this is because the other doctors did not adequately cover certain areas of my son’s lips. Vitiligo often affects the border of the lip, which can be challenging to cover on the inside.
As always, all the staff and doctors at this clinic are very responsive to my inquiries. Furthermore, the atmosphere of the dermatology section of the clinic is very welcoming for patients.
38th time-Nov 17
He fell asleep deeply on the train while en route to the clinic. He expressed a desire to continue napping even when it was time to disembark, which is quite unusual.
It appears he is experiencing daily fatigue from traveling for his laser treatment. Thankfully, he remains cheerful about these trips to the clinic.
Sometimes, I worry he might not want to continue these journeys, which could be challenging for parents like myself.
He occasionally develops some skin soreness around his lips after laser treatment because that area is not covered by the doctor, but he recovers within a couple of days.
This discomfort makes me recall the previous doctor who treated him a long time ago. I often wonder how other parents manage this type of care for their children, especially in double-income families.
It is truly not easy to care for children, particularly when they have medical needs.
39th time-Nov 22
I would appreciate it if my wife could take him to the clinic at her convenience.
I understand that she may not have ample time for the journey to the clinic. She would like me to accompany all family members to the clinic, but I am reluctant to go, even if I happen to be in Dongdaegu.
I believe it would be preferable to remain near Dongdaegu station rather than visiting the clinic, as I anticipate that the journey to the clinic would be tiring, and I feel a sense of pressure when I consider the prospect of future trips to the clinic, even years from now.
Additionally, my son enjoys traveling to the clinic solely with his mother.
However, on the return train journey, my wife occasionally falls asleep unexpectedly, which makes me feel concerned for her.
I am uncertain when these trips to the clinic will conclude, but I am committed to doing my best for my son.
40th time-Nov 25
I had my initial consultation with the doctor following his return from an international conference. I conveyed that my son’s skin had not exhibited redness after the laser treatments, with only the most recent session resulting in a minor flush.
Given my son’s previous responses to the laser treatment, the doctor might consider adjusting the laser intensity. Additionally, I mentioned that we received a UV light as a gift for participating in a vitiligo class in Seoul.
I utilized it to examine his face and hands, and subsequently the area around his left ear. During our last visit to the clinic, while their laser machine was undergoing repairs, a Wood’s light was used, confirming the presence of white spots near his left ear.
Upon returning home, I felt quite fatigued, prompting me to consider an alternative approach for future appointments.
Perhaps for our next visit, I should aim to take an earlier train, provided there is ample time to reach the station, and I need to ascertain if this is a viable option for today.
41st time-Nov 28
The laser treatment level was increased by 10 levels. The hands received treatment at level 200, up from 190, and the face at level 280, up from 270.
This was the first time an increased laser level was applied. The left ear also underwent this treatment. Slight redness was observed after the laser treatment.
Additionally, I joined an online vitiligo cafe and discovered a clinic near Dongdaegu station that offers vitiligo laser treatment, which would eliminate the need for an additional transfer to my son’s current clinic.
However, I am hesitant to switch my son to a new clinic without further consideration. One of the factors causing my hesitation to visit the new clinic near Dongdaegu is the concern that I might be prioritizing my own convenience, specifically reducing travel time with my son.
I believe I should explore new clinics near Dongdaegu whenever the opportunity arises. Therefore, I will also consider visiting these new clinics if the laser machine at my son’s current clinic requires repair.
