Vitiligo

Vitiligo causes white patches on your skin. It can also affect your eyes, mouth and nose. It occurs when the cells that give your skin its color are destroyed. No one knows what destroys them. It is more common in people with autoimmune diseases, and it might run in families. It usually starts before age 40.

The white patches are more common where your skin is exposed to the sun. In some cases, the patches spread. Vitiligo can cause your hair to gray early. If you have dark skin, you may lose color inside your mouth.

Using sunscreen will help protect your skin, and cosmetics can cover up the patches. Treatments for vitiligo include medicines, light therapy and surgery. Not every treatment is right for everyone. Many have side effects. Some take a long time. Some do not always work.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Vitiligo on Wikipedia

'''Vitiligo''' (or '''leukoderma''') is the patchy loss of skin pigmentation due to an autoimmune disorder attack by the body's own immune system on skin melanocytes. It frequently begins in late adulthood, with patches of unpigmented skin appearing on extremities. The patches may grow or remain constant in size. Occasional small areas may repigment as they are recolonised by melanocytes. The population incidence is between 1% and 2%. In some cases, mild trauma to an area of skin seems to cause new patches - for example around the ankles (caused by friction with shoes or sneakers). Vitiligo may also be caused by stress that affects the immune system, leading the body to react and start eliminating skin pigment. The condition is medically harmless, other than the problem that the affected skin areas have no protection against sunlight - they burn but never tan. However, if the skin is naturally dark, the visual effect of the white patches may be considered disfiguring by some. (If the affected person is of pale-skinned ancestry, the patches can be at least be made less visible by avoiding sunlight and the tanning of affected skin.) The location of vitiligo affected skin changes over time, with some patches re-pigmenting and others becoming affected. Where vitiligo is present on the scalp, it will affect the colour of the hair, leaving white patches or streaks. It will similarly affect whiskers and body hair. In some cultures there is a stigma attached to having vitiligo. Those affected with the condition are sometimes thought to be evil or diseased and are sometimes shunned by others in the community. People with vitiligo may feel depressed because of this stigma or because the way their skin looks is a dramatic change. Steroids have been used to remove the white patches, but they are not very effective. Other more dramatic treatments include chemically treating the patient to ...   [ Read More ]

External Resources

PhotoTherapeutix - Phototherapy light treatment for psoriasis and vitiligo. The ultraviolet systems fold flat and most insurance plans will pay.

Dr. J.R.K's Siddha Research & Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. - Indian Pharmaceutical company manufacturing, marketing effective & safe herbal products for PSORIASIS, VITILIGO and any other skin aliments.

Relevance of Thyroiditis and of Other Autoimmune Diseases in Children with Vitiligo - Study examines paediatric patients with this particular skin condition. From Karger Publishers.

National Vitiligo Foundation - A patient oriented site dedicated to information on the cure and treatment of vitiligo.

Vitiligo Society UK - Vitiligo results in a loss of skin color. Vitiligo usually occurs in families, and may sometimes also involve diabetes, thyroid disorders, and some other conditions.

Vitiligo Support - Offers treatment information, social support, message boards and chat to those affected by vitiligo.

Questions and Answers about Vitiligo - Information from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Rosacea Treatment - Have you experienced neurological problems or Vitiligo after using MetroGel for Rosacea? If so, you might want to hear this authors' story.

Vitiligo Switchboard - A portal for Vitiligo patients.

Vitiligo.net - Information pertaining to operative treatment of Vitiligo.

Share your story: