Vitiligo

Info: Vitiligo is a condition in which white patches appear on the skin. It currently affects 1-2 million Americans of all races and both sexes equally. Most people with vitiligo develop it before their 40th birthday. Vitiligo most commonly appears on areas most exposed to the sun such as the hands, feet, arms, face, eyelids, lips and nostrils, but it can also appear in the armpits and groin. Vitiligo may spread slowly or rapidly to other parts of the body.

Signs & Symptoms: The cause is not known. Vitiligo may be an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the skin's melanocytes that make melanin, the pigment in your skin. If these cells die or cannot form melanin, the skin becomes lighter or completely white. Other causes may be genetic, severe sunburn or emotional distress.

Prevention: Practice sun protection using sunscreen and protective clothing. For those with light or medium skin color, avoiding tanning can make areas of vitiligo almost unnoticeable. Reduce emotional and physical stress whenever possible. While vitiligo may run in families, most children whose parents have the disorder will not get it.

Treatment: There are several treatment options for vitiligo aimed at restoring color to the white patches of skin. Some can have unwanted side effects, may take a long time, or may not be effective. Depending on the extent of the white patches, treatment options include:

• Medical - medicines (such as topical corticosteroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors), Excimer laser, PUVA (combination of medicine with ultraviolet light therapy), and depigmentation therapy (removing the color from other areas to better match the white patches)
• Surgical - skin grafts and tatooing for small areas of skin
• Cosmetic - makeup or dye to cover the white patches

To read more about vitiligo, visit our From Your Doctor portal.