VITILIGO

Vitiligo is a disorder characterized by abnormal or loss of skin pigmentation.

Appearance and Epidemiology of Vitiligo

• as sharply bordered white patches

• hair usually becomes depigmented in a streak-like pattern

• sites involved include the eye, mouth, genitals and anal region, and the extensor surfaces, like the elbow and knee

• patient may also have chorioretinitis, inflammation of a specific part of the eye, the chorion

• found in about 1% of the population, but can be up to 40% in families with a positive history of vitiligo

Causes of Vitiligo

• genetic disease - inherited from your parents

  • can also be caused from skin trauma, and sunburn

  • disease is due to the destruction of the pigment producing cells, melanocytes, probably by an autoimmune (self) mechanism

• associated with many other diseases, specifically autoimmune diseases that target your body as being foreign, such as diabetes, pernicious anemia and thyroid diseases

  Treatments for Vitiligo

  • skin grafting

  • sun protection or avoidance

  • skin camouflage preparations

  • future use of skin stem cells as treatment