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.

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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.