Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) in the skin, the tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose and genital and rectal areas and the retina of the eyes are destroyed.
As a result white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body.
The hair that grows in areas affected by vitiligo may turn white.
The cause of vitiligo is not known but doctors and researchers have several different theories.
One theory is that people develop antibodies that destroy the melanocytes in their own bodies.
Another theory is that melanocytes destroy themselves.
Some people have reported that a single event such as sunburn or emotional distress triggered vitiligo.
Vitiligo may also be hereditary.
About 1 to 2 percent of the world's population, or 40 to 50 million people, have vitiligo.
The disorder affects all races and both sexes equally.
There is no way to predict if vitiligo will spread.
For some people, the depigmented patches do not spread.
The disorder is usually progressive, however, and over time the white patches will spread to other areas of the body.
For some people, vitiligo spreads slowly, over many years.
For other people, spreading occurs rapidly.
The goal of treating vitiligo is to restore the function of the skin and to improve the patient's appearance.
Therapy for vitiligo takes a long time, it usually must be continued for 6 to 18 months.
The choice of therapy depends on the number of white patches and how widespread they are and on the patient’s preference for treatment.
Each patient responds differently to therapy, and a particular treatment may not work for everyone.
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR VITILIGO :
Medical Therapies
Topical steroid therapy
Topical psoralen photochemotherapy
Oral psoralen photochemotherapy
Depigmentation
Surgical Therapies
Autologous skin grafts
Skin grafts using blisters
Micropigmentation
Autologous melanocyte transplants
Adjunctive Therapies
Sunscreens
Cosmetics
Counseling and support
People who develop vitiligo usually first notice white patches (depigmentation) on their skin.
These patches are more common in sun-exposed areas, including the hands, feet, arms, face, and lips.
Other common areas for white patches to appear are the armpits and groin and around the mouth, eyes, nostrils, navel, and genitals.
Vitiligo generally appears in one of three patterns.
In one pattern (focal pattern), the depigmentation is limited to one or only a few areas.
Some people develop depigmented patches on only one side of their bodies (segmental pattern).
But for most people who have vitiligo, depigmentation occurs on different parts of the body (generalized pattern).
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