Q: I am a 30-year-old man. I have vitiligo on the foreskin of my penis for the past 12 years. I took treatment and the doctors said that it is 70% cured. I am going to get married in 2 months. A dermatologist suggested the following treatment for 1 month: Tacroz Gel 0.03% - apply on affected skin at night and Levoz - one at night. If I dont get a positive result with the above medicines in 1 month then he gave me two options: To get circumcision done; To get tattoo of skin colour. Which option should I go for? I prefer getting a skin colour tattoo done on my foreskin since 70% portion of my foreskin is already cured. What is the normal cost for both these options? How long will the colour last if I get it tattooed? Will either of these affect my sexual life? What is the procedure of skin colour tattooing? Will I be admitted to the hospital or is it done as an OPD procedure? How much leave will be required?

A:Medical treatment I am afraid will not take you to full recovery in two months - not a realistic option!! Circumcision will be a better option than tattooing. Tattooing implants pigment into the skin with a special surgical instrument. This procedure works best for the lip area, particularly in people with dark skin; however, it is difficult for the doctor to match perfectly the colour of the skin of the surrounding area. Tattooing tends to fade over time. Go to a good general surgeon and get circumcision done - I have no doubt about the choice and it should cost a few thousand rupees. None of these will effect your sexual life. Micro pigmentation (tattooing) is an innovative way of placing or replacing colour in your skin. Micro pigmentation can be used to camouflage scars, burns and vitiligo. A skin specialist who has been trained in micro pigmentation performs the procedures. During the initial consultation, he or she will discuss your needs and select a pigment colour from a specially designed colour chart. This pigment colour will be implanted in your skin with a motorized instrument containing sterile needles. The needles will reciprocate rapidly in and out of your skin. With topical or locally injected anaesthesia, the procedure will be virtually painless. Micro pigmentation is a precise procedure. The area to be pigmented will be measured, outlined and marked. You may be asked to approve the final placement in the mirror. Generally, a locally injected or topical anaesthetic is applied to the site to ensure comfort Sometimes a sedative is recommended to promote relaxation. After the procedure, you may experience swelling, redness or tenderness at the pigmented site. You may need to apply cool compresses to the site or take a pain reliever. The pigmented site should be covered with a greasy ointment or dressing. For best results, the pigmented area should be left undisturbed (which means avoiding unnecessary washing and scrubbing) for a period of five to seven days. You will be given after-care instructions. Most patients resume all normal activities within 24 hours. Micro pigmentation is a relatively simple, safe and painless procedure. However, as with any invasive procedure, there is a possibility of complications, including but not limited to, infection, swelling, bruising, rash, tenderness and a reaction to the pigment or anaesthesia. Although thousands of procedures have been successfully performed with virtually no complications, your skin specialist may advise against it in your case because your medical condition may make micro pigmentation more risky for you or may prevent the pigment from staying in your skin. Be sure to advise your physician about your medical history as well as any medication you are taking. The most common misconception about micro pigmentation is that it is permanent and that it will not wash off like conventional cosmetics. But it is not permanent because it may eventually fade and disappear. Fading can occur within one year while some people experience no fading even after five years. When fading occurs, most people choose to have a touch up. Another common misconception is that the colour selected is the colour that will appear on your skin. Because each individual has a unique skin colour, tone and chemical composition, the colours do look different from one person to the next. Furthermore, the colours can appear too dark or too light. Take your specialists professional help to select the colour that will be most attractive for you.