Vitiligo is a skin disorder that causes patchy skin. It’s an autoimmune disorder, which means it develops as a result of immune system problems. The immune system normally attacks invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, and kills unhealthy cells inside the body. In people with an autoimmune disorder, however, the immune system attacks healthy body cells. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder in which the body mistakenly attacks skin cells.
More specifically, vitiligo causes the immune system to attack melanocytes, which are the cells that produce pigment in the skin. Damaged melanocytes cause the affected area of the skin to lose its color and appear lighter in color or even completely white. Vitiligo typically affects the skin on the face, arms, hands, feet, and genitals.
The most common locations for patches, also known as macules, are the face, arms, hands, feet, and genitals. It may be difficult to recognize this depigmentation in a light-skinned individual, but in those with darker skin, the contrast can be quite noticeable.
While vitiligo is not a life-threatening condition, it can significantly reduce the quality of life for people who have it. The skin disorder vitiligo can be a major source of embarrassment, especially for those with:
There are several types of vitiligo, and each causes different effects. The types of vitiligo disease include:
Vitiligo is more noticeable in people with darker skin. This is because of the contrast between the light-colored vitiligo spots and the dark skin. Vitiligo skin symptoms include:
Vitiligo is often the result of an immune system disorder. In some cases, stress, severe sunburn, contact with a chemical, or other trauma can trigger vitiligo.
Practicing strict sun protection measures, such as avoiding sun exposure between 10 am and 4 pm, is essential for anyone with vitiligo. Since the function of melanocytes and pigment is to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, the lack of pigmentation in someone with vitiligo increases their risk for sunburn, sun damage, and the development of skin cancer later in life. Staying out of the sun can also help stop new patches from developing.
Early signs of vitiligo usually include a small patch of skin that gradually turns completely white. If there are blood vessels sitting just beneath the surface of the skin, the patches may appear pink. The edges of the patches may be smooth or irregular. These patches usually appear first on the hands, forearms, face, and feet. The patches can spread and widen, but they typically stay in the same place for years. The location of small patches of vitiligo skin can shift and change as various areas of skin lose and regain their pigment.
The skin condition vitiligo does have a strong genetic component, which means people who have one or both parents with the condition are more likely to develop it themselves.
While there is no way to prevent vitiligo, it is possible to reduce the visible contrast between healthy skin and macules.
Researchers are still working to develop a vitiligo cure, but skin doctors have already developed several treatments to ease the signs and symptoms of vitiligo skin disease.
While it may be difficult to restore pigment to the affected area, skin doctors can provide a number of treatments to lessen the effects of vitiligo. Oral and topical anti-inflammatory medications can target the immune cells that are destroying melanocytes, for example. UVB light therapy and Excimer laser can be effective in re-pigmenting skin too. In many cases, a combination approach provides the greatest chance of success. In rare cases in which vitiligo affects a very large area of the body, completely removing pigmentation from the skin with a topical lightening agent may be the treatment of choice; this is especially true for treating large areas of vitiligo on white skin.
Schedule a consult with one of our dermatologists to find out more about treatment options that are right for you. While there is currently no cure for vitiligo skin disease, treatment can lessen the visible appearance of white patches and macules from nearly anywhere on the body.
To connect with others who have vitiligo, visit the American Vitiligo Foundation website.
Vitiligo affects about 1 percent of the world’s population. People of all ages, both genders and every ethnicity can develop vitiligo. The condition typically develops before the age of 20. Having a family history of the condition, or a personal history of sunburn, stress, or exposure to industrial chemicals, increases your risk of developing it.
While vitiligo can affect people of all racial backgrounds – including those with light or white skin – the light patches of skin that characterize vitiligo are more noticeable on people with darker skin.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder, which means it occurs when the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs. In people with vitiligo, the immune system attacks the pigment cells in the skin, which are known as melanocytes. This attack prevents the melanocytes from producing the pigment that gives skin its color. Approximately 15 to 20 percent of people with vitiligo disease also have at least one other autoimmune disorder.
The white patches of vitiligo may spread to other parts of the body for some people but not for others. The white patches may spread quickly for some people, and very slowly over the course of years for others.
There is no cure for vitiligo, in that there is no way to stop the loss of pigment cells in your skin. Until a cure is found, treatment can create a uniform skin tone by stimulating the production of pigment.
Vitiligo laser treatment is highly effective at restoring skin tone. Laser treatment stimulates the repigmentation of skin, thereby restoring color to white patches. Your dermatologist can help you decide if laser treatment is right for you; most people tolerate laser treatment well and enjoy long-lasting relief from the white skin patches of vitiligo.
Dermatologists diagnose vitiligo skin disorder by performing a thorough examination of the affected area to rule out other conditions. Your dermatologist may take a skin sample and order bloodwork to verify the diagnosis.