Vitiligo

What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo appears as white spots on the skin.  This occurs when the immune system attacks the pigment (melanin) producing cells in the skin.  This results in white spots occurring on the skin. This condition occurs in  between 0.5% – 1% of individuals.  Vitiligo can be unpredictable in severity and location.  Typically it can be found in areas commonly exposed to sunlight, such as the face, arms, and ankles.

What causes Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease and typically develops in individuals with a combination of genetic and additional as yet poorly understood factors.  Vitiligo can be more common in someone with psoriasis, alopecia areata, and other skin diseases.  

How can Vitiligo be treated?

Vitiligo doesn’t harm the body however individuals with vitiligo can feel self-conscious and treatment can help with self-esteem.  Treatments are available to help restore color to areas of the skin.

• Light Therapy: Light therapy is typically used for cases of widespread vitiligo.  Light therapy can be used for all locations but sees the best results on the face.  Light therapy can also be combined with topical therapy to improve results. 
• Topical Therapy:  There are several different topical treatments that can be applied to the skin to add color, typically prescribed for small areas.  Corticosteroids can be applied to the skin to help regain skin color.  Visit your dermatologist to find the best prescribed topical therapy as some medicines can have side effects.

Treatment results vary and usually take months.  Each case of vitiligo is different and how the patient reacts to treatments.  Visit the dermatologist to find the best treatment for you.