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June 25^th is World Vitiligo Day. Vitiligo is a disease that causes skin to lose color or pigmentation. Smooth white or light areas called macules or patches appear on the skin. It generally starts on the hands, forearms, feet, and face.

Vitiligo occurs when the cells that produce melanin, melanocytes, stop making it or die. It is unclear what exactly causes vitiligo; however, it may be related to the following:

An autoimmune condition
Family history
A trigger event, such as stress, severe sunburn, or skin trauma, such as a chemical burn

About 1% of the global population has vitiligo. It affects all races and sexes equally. Vitiligo is more visible in people with darker skin tones. Although the disease can develop at any age, macules or patches usually become apparent before the age of 30.

A person may be at a higher risk of developing vitiligo if they have certain autoimmune conditions, such as:

Addison’s disease
Anemia
Type 1 diabetes
Lupus
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Thyroid disease

There are several types of vitiligo, including:

Generalized- the most common type of vitiligo that causes macules to appear in various places on the body
Segmental- this type only affects one side of the body or one area, such as the hands or face
Mucosal- this type affects the mucous membranes of the mouth and/or genitals
Focal- this rare type is where the macules develop in a small area and don’t spread in a certain pattern within one to two years
Trichome- this type causes a bullseye with a white or colorless center, then an area of lighter pigmentation, and an area of the person’s natural skin tone
Universal- this rare type causes more than 80% of the skin to lose pigment

The signs and symptoms of vitiligo include:

Patches of skin or mucous membranes that lose color and appear white or lighter than your natural skin tone
Patches of hair on the body turn silver, gray, or white

Symptoms can be mild and only affect a small area of the body or severe, affecting a large area of the skin. Some people with vitiligo experience itchy skin before depigmentation starts.

To diagnose vitiligo, a healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and examine your skin, possibly with a special lamp. This evaluation may also include a skin biopsy and blood tests.

The choice of treatment for vitiligo depends on your age, how much skin is involved and where, how quickly the disease is progressing, and how it’s affecting your life.

Medications and light-based therapies are available to help restore skin color or even skin tone, though results may vary and are unpredictable. Some treatments have serious side effects, so a healthcare provider may suggest that you try changing the appearance of your skin by applying a self-tanning product or makeup first.

If you and a healthcare provider decide to treat your condition with a drug, surgery, or therapy, it may take several months to judge its effectiveness. You may also have to try a combination of approaches before finding what works best.

If you have vitiligo, certain self-care tactics may help you care for your skin and improve its appearance, including:

Protecting your skin from the sun and artificial sources of UV light
Concealing affected skin
Not getting a tattoo

To schedule an appointment with a dermatologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call (718) 206-7001.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Vitiligo (vit-uh-lie-go) also called ‘leucoderma’ is a condition in which there is a development of milky-white patches on the skin. Anyone can get this skin disorder. Millions of people of all races and ethnicities worldwide have Vitiligo. It occurs in 0.5-2% of the general population. Some well-known cases of vitiligo have occurred in celebrities such as Michael Jackson, supermodel Winnie Harlow, and comedian Steve Martin.

So what causes vitiligo? Vitiligo is usually seen on the skin but other areas such as the scalp, lips and genitals can also be affected. Patches of hair can turn white. It develops because color producing cells in our skin called melanocytes, die.

Scientists have not completely understood why these cells die. Multiple factors such as genetics, a weak immune system which attacks its own cells, and increased free radical-induced damage (oxidative stress) may be the cause. Those whose parents have vitiligo and associated autoimmune diseases are more likely to get it as compared to the general population, although in most cases there is no family history of the condition. Certain factors such as skin injury and severe sunburn can cause development of new patches in a predisposed individual as well.

There are several myths associated with the spread of vitiligo but the fact is that vitiligo is not contagious. People also think that it is caused by eating white foods and drinking too much milk which is also false. Certain prescribed medications can stop the spread of new vitiligo spots but is not guaranteed, as new spots may appear but recover as treatment proceeds. Although vitiligo is not life-threatening it is life-changing. Those afflicted with vitiligo and their families face social stigmatisation leading to low self-esteem, anxiety, embarrassment, anger and even serious depression.

The Division of Dermatology at Jamaica Hospital offers several services, including adult and pediatric dermatology, dermatologic and skin cancer surgery, and cosmetic dermatology. For an appointment, please call (718) 206- 6742.

Tag Archives: vitiligo

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