Из за чего появляется витилиго: Причины витилиго: почему возникает болезнь

Витилиго – что это за болезнь: причины, осложнения и лечение

Оттенок кожи, его насыщенность и равномерность зависит от количества меланинов в клетках. Это пигменты, отвечающие не только за цвет эпидермиса, но и волос, радужки. У большинства людей концентрация меланинов практически одинаковая на всех участках кожи, но около 1% населения планеты страдает от нарушения, связанного со снижением их количества.

Витилиго – что это?

За экзотическим названием патологии скрывается простое медицинское определение. Лейкодерма, лейкодермия или витилиго – это выраженное изменение пигментации кожи. Чаще оно поражает смуглых и темнокожих людей с карими глазами. Болезнь витилиго может дебютировать в любом возрасте, но начинается преимущественно в молодости. Первые симптомы патологии человек замечает в период с 10 до 30 лет.

Витилиго – причины возникновения

Рассматриваемое заболевание давно изучается докторами, о нем было известно еще в древности. Длительные исследования пока не помогли в установлении природы и происхождения витилиго – что это за болезнь, и почему она возникает, еще не удалось выяснить. Существуют только предположительные факторы, которые усиливают подверженность определенных людей лейкодерме. Витилиго – причины:

• аутоиммунные нарушения;
• наследственная предрасположенность;
• ухудшение трофики тканей;
• гормональные сбои;
• заболевания печени и желудочно-кишечного тракта;
• патологии щитовидной железы;
• использование некоторых медикаментов;
• стрессовые состояния;
• интоксикации;
• физические травмы;
• хронические поражения внутренних органов;
• контакт кожи с синтетическими тканями;
• работа на вредных химических производствах;
• воспалительные или некротические процессы в дерме;
• сахарный диабет.

Осложнения витилиго

Болезнь не считается опасной для общего состояния здоровья или жизни человека. Лейкодермия – это просто нарушение пигментации кожи, которое не влечет за собой серьезных последствий. Иногда возникают проблемы только психологического плана, потому что человек с витилиго может ощущать себя ущербным или непривлекательным из-за неравномерного цвета эпидермиса.

В некоторых источниках патологию ассоциируют со следующими заболеваниями:

Лейкодерма не способна вызывать перечисленные нарушения. Данный факт легко подтвердить, если подробнее изучить витилиго – что это за болезнь, каковы механизмы ее развития. Патология может стать результатом указанных недугов, но не провоцировать их. Лейкодермия затрагивает исключительно кожный покров и влияет на концентрацию меланинов в его тканях.

Витилиго – симптомы

Клиническая картина представленной болезни настолько специфична, что ее диагностируют еще на первом приеме у дерматолога. Признаки витилиго ограничиваются только визуальными проявлениями:

• образование на здоровой коже молочно-белых пятен;
• полное обесцвечивание волос на пораженных участках;
• расширение и слияние пятен в крупные очаги;
• иногда – произвольное исчезновение депигментированных зон.

Субъективных ощущений или других симптомов лейкодермы у человека нет. Она может беспокоить как косметический дефект, особенно женщин. При несоблюдении правил пребывания на солнце возникают ожоги. Кожа без нормальной пигментации впитывает ультрафиолетовое излучение быстрее, чем здоровый эпидермис. Это приводит к тому, что она моментально сгорает.

Формы витилиго

Существует 3 вида лейкодермы, некоторые из них встречаются крайне редко. Ниже можно подробнее рассмотреть типы витилиго, фото прилагаются:

1. Генерализованная форма. Обесцвеченные участки располагаются по всему телу. Этот вариант болезни включает подвиды – акрофациальный (пятна только на конечностях и лице), вульгарный (депигментация симметрична, не ограничивается определенной зоной), смешанный (сочетание разных типов заболевания).

2. Локализованная форма витилиго. Пятна образуются в определенных областях, их немного. Подвиды: фокальная (обесцвечивание на 1-2 участках), сегментальная (депигментация только на одной половине тела), слизистая (меланины отсутствуют во рту, на гениталиях) лейкодерма.

3. Универсальная форма. Самый редкий вариант болезни. Пятна витилиго множественны, склонны к слиянию. В результате обесцвечиваются огромные участки кожи, более 80% ее поверхности.

Для правильной диагностики потребуется еще немного информации о витилиго, что это за болезнь и каков характер ее течения:

• стабильный – пятно не меняется продолжительное время;
• прогрессирующий – депигментация постоянно усиливается;
• нестабильный – некоторые обесцвеченные участки исчезают, другие появляются.

Еще одна классификация предполагает разделение по виду пятен:

• голубое – с соответствующим оттенком;
• трехцветное – между здоровым и депигментированным кожным покровом есть промежуточная зона;
• четырехцветное – вокруг пятна область с выраженным темным оттенком;
• воспаленное – границы обесцвеченной области приподняты и воспалены.

Диагностика витилиго

Лейкодермия кожи легко выявляется на осмотре у дерматолога благодаря специфическому поражению эпидермиса и выраженной симптоматике. Иногда требуются дополнительные исследования, чтобы подтвердить витилиго, начальная стадия болезни может имитировать другие патологии. Анализы, назначаемые при диагностике лейкодермы:

• биохимическое исследование крови;
• гистология;
• биопсия кожи;
• осмотр лампой Вуда.

Витилиго – лечение

Из-за отсутствия достаточной информации о происхождении и причинах патологии сложно разработать эффективную терапию. Пока нет действенных методов, как лечить витилиго. Существующие варианты направлены на смягчение уже имеющихся симптомов лейкодермии, профилактику появления новых депигментированных пятен, их слияния и распространения по телу.

Можно ли навсегда избавиться от витилиго?

Ответ на поставленный вопрос отрицательный. Снизить риск развития этой болезни тоже нельзя. Витилиго лечится пожизненно, с применением разных терапевтических схем, их периодической корректировкой в зависимости от текущего состояния человека. В некоторых ситуациях удается добиться стабильности пятен и придать им цвет, близкий к нормальному оттенку эпидермиса.

Лечение витилиго – лекарства

Подбор медикаментов осуществляется только квалифицированным дерматологом. Схема зависит от информации, полученной о конкретном случае витилиго – что это за болезнь, в какой форме она протекает, склонна ли к прогрессированию и воспалению пятен. Лечение может включать:

1. Антиоксиданты. К ним относятся витамины, ферменты, минералы, биофлавоноиды, липиды, пептиды и нуклеотиды. Используемые препараты – Актовегин, Берлитион, Эпадол и другие.
2. Местные средства. После анализов на чувствительность подбирается глюкокортикостероидная мазь от витилиго – Элоком, Дермовейт, Алкометазон и аналоги. В качестве противовоспалительных лекарств рекомендованы Элидел и Протопик.
3. Иммуномодуляторы. Для коррекции выработки антител против меланинов применяются преимущественно интерфероны.

Лечение витилиго ультрафиолетом

Облучение выполняется двумя основными способами, но для максимального эффекта необходимо принимать специальные фотосенсибилизирующие препараты. Они повышают чувствительность к ультрафиолету:

• Оксорален;
• Бероксан;
• Пувален;
• Ламадин;
• Псоберан;
• Аммифурни;
• Метоксален;
• Псорален и синонимы.

Лейкодерма – лечение «загаром»:

1. ПУВА-терапия. На депигментированные участки наносится фотоактивное вещество, после чего они облучаются длинноволновым ультрафиолетом.
2. Узкополосное воздействие. Более щадящий, но действенный метод. Обесцвеченный эпидермальный слой облучается ультрафиолетом с длиной волны 311 нм.

Лечение витилиго лазером

Рассматриваемый вариант терапии показывает хорошие результаты – площадь пятен уменьшается, прекращается их образование и слияние. Лазерное воздействие не является способом, как вылечить витилиго полностью. Его необходимо проходить регулярными курсами, закрепляя полученный эффект. В зависимости от площади поражения дерматологом подбирается оптимальное количество сеансов.

Перед началом терапии тщательно изучается форма витилиго – что это за кожная болезнь, как она протекает, воспаляются ли пятна. После анализа состояния пациента назначается курс обработки эпидермиса фракционным лазером с длиной волны от 300 до 380 нм. Луч послойно испаряет поврежденные клетки, лишенные меланоцитов, и стимулирует выработку нормальной ткани.

Лечение витилиго народными средствами

Альтернативная медицина предлагает много рецептов, которые представляют собой натуральные антиоксиданты. С их помощью не получится полностью устранить заболевание витилиго, только уменьшить его выраженность и замедлить развитие. Самым простым способом получения антиоксидантов считается прием растительных масел, например, черного тмина или зверобоя.

Витилиго – лечение народными средствами из трав

Ингредиенты:

• весенний первоцвет – 2 ст. ложки;
• шалфей – 2 ст. ложки;
• тысячелистник – 2 ст. ложки;
• вода – 1 л.

Приготовление, применение

1. Залить 3 ст. ложки сбора кипятком.
2. Настоять до полного остывания.
3. Процедить раствор.
4. Принимать 6 раз в сутки по 100 мл средства.

 

90000 Vitiligo: Symptoms, causes, and treatments 90001 90002 Vitiligo is a long-term problem in which growing patches of skin lose their color. It can affect people of any age, gender, or ethnic group. 90003 90002 The patches appear when melanocytes within the skin die off. Melanocytes are the cells responsible for producing the skin pigment, melanin, which gives skin its color and protects it from the sun’s UV rays. 90003 90002 Globally, it appears to affect between 0.5 and 2 percent of people.90003 90008 Fast facts on vitiligo 90009 90010 90011 Vitiligo can affect people of any age, gender, or ethnicity. 90012 90011 There is no cure, and it is usually a lifelong condition. 90012 90011 The exact cause is unknown, but it may be due to an autoimmune disorder or a virus. 90012 90011 Vitiligo is not contagious. 90012 90011 Treatment options may include exposure to UVA or UVB light and depigmentation of the skin in severe cases. 90012 90021 90002 Vitiligo is a skin condition in which patches of skin loses their color.90003 90002 The total area of ​​skin that can be affected by vitiligo varies between individuals. It can also affect the eyes, the inside of mouth, and the hair. In most cases, the affected areas remain discolored for the rest of the person’s life. 90003 90002 The condition is photosensitive. This means that the areas that are affected will be more sensitive to sunlight than those that are not. 90003 90002 It is hard to predict whether the patches will spread, and by how much. The spread might take weeks, or the patches might remain stable for months or years.90003 90002 The lighter patches tend to be more visible in people with dark or tanned skin. 90003 90002 The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) describe vitiligo as «more than a cosmetic problem.» It is a health issue that needs medical attention. 90003 90002 A number of remedies can help decrease the visibility of the condition. 90003 90008 Using sunscreen 90009 90002 The AAD recommend using a sunscreen, because the lighter patches of skin are especially sensitive to sunlight and they can burn easily.A dermatologist can advise on a suitable type. 90003 90008 Phototherapy with UVB light 90009 90002 Exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) lamps is a common treatment option. Home treatment requires a small lamp and allows for daily use, which is more effective. 90003 90002 If the treatment is done in a clinic, this will need 2 to 3 visits a week and the treatment time will be longer. 90003 90002 If there are white spots across large areas of the body, UVB phototherapy may be used. This involves full-body treatment.It is done in a hospital. 90003 90002 UVB phototherapy, combined with other treatments, can have a positive effect on vitiligo. However, the result is not totally predictable, and there is still no treatment that will fully re-pigment the skin. 90003 90008 Phototherapy with UVA light 90009 90002 UVA treatment is usually conducted in a health care setting. First, the patient takes a drug that increases the skin’s sensitivity to UV light. Then, in a series of treatments, the affected skin is exposed to high doses of UVA light.90003 90002 Progress will be evident after 6 to 12 months of twice-weekly sessions. 90003 90008 Skin camouflage 90009 90002 In cases of mild vitiligo, the patient can camouflage some of the white patches with colored, cosmetic creams and makeup. They should select tones that best match their skin features. 90003 90002 If creams and makeup are correctly applied, they can last 12 to 18 hours on the face and up to 96 hours for the rest of the body. Most topical applications are waterproof. 90003 90008 Depigmenting 90009 Share on PinterestA range of treatments are available for vitiligo, although many people choose not to treat it.90002 When the affected area is widespread, covering 50 percent of the body or more, depigmentation can be an option. This reduces the skin color in unaffected parts to match the whiter areas. 90003 90002 Depigmentation is achieved by applying strong topical lotions or ointments, such as monobenzone, mequinol, or hydroquinone. 90003 90002 The treatment is permanent, but it can make the skin more fragile. Long exposure to the sun must be avoided. Depigmentation can take 12 to 14 months, depending on factors such as the depth of the original skin tone.90003 90008 Topical corticosteroids 90009 90002 Corticosteroid ointments are creams containing steroids. Some studies have concluded that applying topical corticosteroids to the white patches can stop the spread. Others have reported total restoration of the original skin color. Corticosteroids should never be used on the face. 90003 90002 If there is some improvement after a month, the treatment should be paused for a couple of weeks before starting it again. 90003 90002 If there is no improvement after a month, or if side effects occur, treatment should stop.90003 90008 Calcipotriene (Dovonex) 90009 90002 Calcipotriene is a form of vitamin D used as a topical ointment. It may be used with corticosteroids or light treatment. Side effects include rashes, dry skin, and itching. 90003 90008 Drugs affecting the immune system 90009 90002 Ointments containing tacrolimus or pimecrolimus, drugs known as calcineurin inhibitors, can help with smaller patches of depigmentation. However, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warn of a connection between these drugs and skin cancer and lymphoma.90003 90008 Psoralen 90009 90002 Psoralen may be used with UVA or UVB light therapy, as it makes the skin more susceptible to UV light. As the skin heals, a more normal coloration sometimes returns. Treatment may need to be repeated two or three times a week for 6 to 12 months. 90003 90002 Psoralen increases the risk of sunburn and skin damage, and therefore also skin cancer in the long term. It is not recommended for children under 10 years. 90003 90008 Skin grafts 90009 90002 In a skin graft, a surgeon carefully removes healthy patches of pigmented skin and uses them to cover affected areas.90003 90002 This procedure is not very common, because it takes time and can result in scarring in the area where the skin came from and the area where it is placed. 90003 90002 Blister grafting involves producing a blister on normal skin using suction. The top of the blister is then removed and placed on an area where pigment has been lost. There is a lower risk of scarring. 90003 90008 Tattooing 90009 90002 Surgery is used to implant pigment into the skin. It works best around the lips, especially in people with darker skin.90003 90002 Drawbacks can include difficulty matching the color of skin and the fact that tattoos fade but do not tan. Sometimes, skin damage caused by tattooing can trigger another patch of vitiligo. 90003 90002 The exact causes of vitiligo are unclear. A number of factors may contribute. 90003 90002 These include: 90003 90010 90011 an autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system becomes overactive and destroys the melanocytes 90012 90011 a genetic oxidative stress imbalance 90012 90011 a stressful event 90012 90011 harm to the skin due to a critical sunburn or cut 90012 90011 exposure to some chemicals 90012 90011 a neural cause 90012 90011 heredity, as it may run in families 90012 90011 a virus 90012 90021 90002 Vitiligo is not contagious.One person can not catch it from another. 90003 90002 It can appear at any age, but studies suggest that it is more likely to start around the age of 20 years. 90003 90002 The only symptom of vitiligo is the appearance of flat white spots or patches on the skin. The first white spot that becomes noticeable is often in an area that tends to be exposed to the sun. 90003 90002 It starts as a simple spot, a little paler than the rest of the skin, but as time passes, this spot becomes paler until it turns white.90003 90002 The patches are irregular in shape. At times, the edges can become a little inflamed with a slight red tone, sometimes resulting in itchiness. 90003 90002 Normally, however, it does not cause any discomfort, irritation, soreness, or dryness in the skin. 90003 90002 The effects of vitiligo vary between people. Some people may have only a handful of white dots that develop no further, while others develop larger white patches that join together and affect larger areas of skin. 90003 90002 There are two types of vitiligo, non-segmental and segmental.90003 90008 Non-segmental vitiligo 90009 90002 If the first white patches are symmetrical, this suggests a type of vitiligo known as non-segmental vitiligo. The development will be slower than if the patches are in only one area of ​​the body. 90003 90002 Non-segmental vitiligo is the most common type, accounting for up to 90 percent of cases. 90003 90002 The patches often appear equally on both sides of the body, with some measure of symmetry. They often appear on skin that is commonly exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, and hands.90003 90002 Common areas include: 90003 90010 90011 backs of the hands 90012 90011 arms 90012 90011 eyes 90012 90011 knees 90012 90011 elbows 90012 90011 feet 90012 90011 mouth 90012 90011 armpit and groin 90012 90011 nose 90012 90011 navel 90012 90011 genitals and rectal area 90012 90021 90002 Non-segmental vitiligo is further broken down into sub-categories: 90003 90010 90011 90182 Generalized 90183: There is no specific area or size of patches. This is the most common type.90012 90011 90182 Acrofacial 90183: This occurs mostly on the fingers or toes. 90012 90011 90182 Mucosal 90183: This appears mostly around the mucous membranes and lips. 90012 90011 90182 Universal 90183: Depigmentation covers most of the body. This is very rare. 90012 90011 90182 Focal 90183: One, or a few, scattered white patches develop in a discrete area. It most often occurs in young children. 90012 90021 90008 Segmental vitiligo 90009 90002 Segmental vitiligo spreads more rapidly but is considered more constant and stable and less erratic than the non-segmental type.It is much less common and affects only about 10 percent of people with vitiligo. It is non-symetrical. 90003 90002 It is more noticeable in early age groups, affecting about 30 percent of children diagnosed with vitiligo. 90003 90002 Segmental vitiligo usually affects areas of skin attached to nerves arising in the dorsal roots of the spine. It responds well to topical treatments. 90003 90002 Vitiligo does not develop into other diseases, but people with the condition are more likely to experience: 90003 90010 90011 painful sunburn 90012 90011 hearing loss 90012 90011 changes to vision and tear production 90012 90021 90002 A person with vitiligo is more likely to have another autoimmune disorder, such as thyroid problems, Addison’s disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes, or pernicious anemia.Most people with vitiligo do not have these conditions, but tests may be done to rule them out. 90003 90008 Overcoming social challenges 90009 90002 If the skin patches are visible, the social stigma of vitiligo can be difficult to cope with. Embarrassment can lead to problems with self-esteem, and in some cases, anxiety and depression can result. 90003 90002 People with darker skin are more likely to experience difficulties, because the contrast is greater. In India, vitiligo is known as «white leprosy.»90003 90002 Increasing awareness about vitiligo, for example, by talking to friends about it, can help people with the condition to overcome these difficulties. Connecting with other who have vitiligo may also help. 90003 90002 Anyone with this condition who experiences symptoms of anxiety and depression should ask their dermatologist to recommend someone who can help. 90003.90000 What causes vitiligo? — UMass Vitiligo Clinic & Research Center 90001 90002 90003 Do we truly know what causes vitiligo? Is it really an autoimmune disease? Is not the cause «unknown», and are not there many alternative theories that are equally likely? These questions drive me nuts, but people keep asking them, so I thought I should probably take the time to answer. I recently attended the first 90004 international symposium on vitiligo in Rome, Italy 90005, where many vitiligo experts came together to discuss our research in vitiligo, as well as what we should focus on next.Dr. Richard Spritz, who has done wonderful work on the 90004 genetics of vitiligo 90005, said that he was frustrated that papers published on vitiligo still start with, «The cause of vitiligo is unknown. There are many hypotheses as to the true cause. . . «. He finds this frustrating because we know SO MUCH about what causes vitiligo. I then got up to the podium and agreed, saying that whoever writes those sentences must have missed all of the papers that have been published in the past 30 years.90008 90002 In fact, we know more about what causes vitiligo than any other autoimmune disease, including diabetes, thyroiditis, lupus, and others. It’s true that there have been many different ideas in the past about what causes vitiligo, from autoimmunity to cellular stress, chemicals, nerves, and genetics. And many scientists have spent a long time arguing about which one was correct. It turns out that most of them are correct, and work together to cause the clinical disease we call vitiligo.Have you ever heard the story about the blind men and the elephant? It describes a situation in which 3 blind men stumble upon an elephant and attempt to determine what it is, simply by touching it. One at the trunk believes it is a snake, another at the tusk claims it is a piece of rock, and the third at the leg argues that it is a pillar. At first they argue vehemently, but once they discuss and move around to examine it from the others ‘perspectives, they collaborate to realize that each of them was correct in describing part of the whole, and that together they could discover the bigger truth.90008 90002 Early clinicians noticed that vitiligo frequently occurred in patients and their family members with other autoimmune diseases, particularly thyroid disease and juvenile diabetes, suggesting that it was also autoimmune. Antibodies to melanocytes were discovered in the blood of patients, which seemed to support this idea. Then, others found that melanocytes from vitiligo patients were abnormal and sick, and then argued that it was primarily a degenerative disease of melanocytes, and any observed immune responses were only secondary to this degeneration.Then examination of affected skin under the microscope revealed that T cells were right next to dying melanocytes, again suggesting that immune cells were key players in the disease. 90008 90002 Then an experiment found that immune T cells could be isolated from white skin, put together with unaffected, pigmented skin from the same patient, and the T cells crawled into this skin and killed melanocytes, proving that T cells were necessary and sufficient to cause vitiligo in the patient. The «Convergence Theory of vitiligo» was developed, essentially representing the communication among the 3 blind men when they figured it all out.This theory suggested that the abnormal melanocytes induced inflammation in the skin, which resulted in T cell-mediated killing of the melanocytes. This tied together both the cellular stress and autoimmune theories. Then additional studies found that certain chemicals could induce cellular stress in otherwise healthy melanocytes, which served as an environmental exposure that could also help to start the autoimmune disease. 90008 90002 That left another «competing» theory, the genetic theory.Well, stating this as an alternative theory is just silly, because genetics influences all of these pathways. The abnormal melanocytes are likely that way because of their genetic makeup. The hyperactive T cells that decide to target and kill melanocytes are likely that way because of their genetic makeup. The sensitivity to chemicals can also be affected by the patient’s genetic makeup. Thus, rather than being an alternative theory, studying the genetics of vitiligo patients could help us to understand a lot about what causes the disease, and that turns out to be true.Most of the genes that have been connected with vitiligo are key components of the immune response, confirming the importance of autoimmunity in vitiligo. A few others appear to be involved in melanocyte function and cellular stress, although there are much fewer of these. So this clearly connects genetics in vitiligo to the other theories. You can read more about this in my discussion with the geneticist Dr. Richard Spritz 90004 here 90005. 90008 90002 That leaves just the «neural theory» of vitiligo, which is simply unsupported and probably not true at all.It was initially suggested because a subtype of vitiligo, segmental vitiligo, occurs only on one side of the body, and rarely crosses the center of the body. This is a similar pattern to shingles, which is a viral infection in the nerves of the skin and does not cross the midline. So some thought that segmental vitiligo involved the nerves. But when examined closely, segmental vitiligo does not follow nerve patterns at all, and often crosses them in exactly the wrong direction. So this does not support the involvement of nerves.Others thought nerves might be involved because emotional stress can affect the severity of vitiligo, but this occurs in other autoimmune diseases as well, and there’s no evidence that this is from nerves, but instead it’s probably related to hormonal changes that occur during emotional stress. Others thought nerves were involved because catecholamine chemicals, secreted by nerves, are elevated in the urine of vitiligo patients. But these are secreted by melanocytes as well, which makes a lot more sense as their source.Others implicated nerves because fish control their coloring by their nerves, but there’s no evidence this happens in mammals. Finally, some physicians reported that vitiligo improved on the same side as nerve injuries, but over time others reported the opposite. So in the end that leaves no evidence that nerves are involved in vitiligo, at least for now. 90008 90002 In summary, these observations make it pretty clear that vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that is initiated by melanocyte stress, which can be worsened by exposure to chemicals.Genes, inherited from your parents, influence all of these pieces. The Convergence Theory appears to be correct, and you can read more about the details 90004 here 90005. Now when scientists, lay bloggers, or other people start to question the evidence for these accepted theories of vitiligo or question the «true cause» of vitiligo, it’s usually because they’re pushing their own interests, trying to sell something, or both. When scientists make discoveries that new proteins appear to be involved, they have an opportunity to connect this new data to existing data to strengthen it, or to question the mountains of existing data in order to make theirs look more important.This makes me suspicious. So be careful what you read, and always keep these caveats in mind as you think about your vitiligo! 90008 .90000 Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options 90001 90002 Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 4, 2020. 90003 90004 What is Vitiligo? 90005 90006 90002 Vitiligo consists of white patches of skin that are caused by the loss of melanin, the pigment that is a major contributor to skin. Melanin is produced by special cells called melanocytes, which are destroyed in people who have vitiligo. The cause of vitiligo is not known but evidence strongly suggests that vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder, in which the body’s immune system mistakenly targets and injures these specific cells.90003 90009 90010 90011 90012 90002 90003 90015 90016 90017 90018 90002 Vitiligo can cause minor changes or extensive changes in the skin. In some people, it may be hardly noticeable, while in others it is obvious. In dark-skinned people the vitiligo patches are obvious since they contrast with normal skin. Light-skinned people may have fewer cosmetic concerns, but patches without pigment can become obvious in the summer because unaffected skin tans while vitiligo skin does not tan.90003 90002 Vitiligo occurs in about 1 percent to 2 percent of the population. Approximately 30 percent of people with vitiligo have a family history of the condition. About half of people with vitiligo start showing symptoms before age 20. 90003 90002 People with vitiligo have an increased risk of developing other autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid disease and type 1 diabetes. Also, people with these conditions have an increased risk of developing vitiligo. 90003 90004 Symptoms 90005 90002 Vitiligo causes patches of white skin that are often symmetrical (even), with dark or red borders.The patches can occur anywhere, but the areas most commonly affected are the backs of the hands, the face, and areas that have skin folds, such as the armpits and genitals. Body openings, such as the lips, eyes, nipples and anus are also common areas for vitiligo, as are areas that have been sunburned. 90003 90002 Vitiligo can occur in bursts, so that sizeable areas of skin may rapidly lose their pigment during the beginning stages of the condition, yet then these whitened skin patches may abruptly stop expanding for months or years.90003 90004 Diagnosis 90005 90002 Vitiligo causes a pattern of skin changes that usually can be recognized easily by a doctor. If the skin changes are in a pattern that suggests other conditions, your doctor might recommend a biopsy of the skin to be certain about your diagnosis. In a biopsy, a small piece of skin is removed and examined in a laboratory. A biopsy usually is not needed to diagnose vitiligo. 90003 90004 Expected Duration 90005 90002 In 1 out of every 5 to 10 people, some or all of the pigment eventually returns on its own and the white patches disappear.For most people, however, the whitened skin patches last and grow larger if vitiligo is not treated. Vitiligo is a lifelong condition. 90003 90004 Prevention 90005 90002 There is no way to prevent vitiligo. 90003 90004 Treatment 90005 90002 Vitiligo is difficult to treat, and responses vary. The most important treatment is to protect areas of vitiligo from the sun. It is very easy for areas without pigment to become sunburned. This increases the risk of skin cancer.Wear sun-protective clothing and / or apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to areas affected by vitiligo. 90003 90002 Other treatments can be attempted if vitiligo causes emotional or social distress. The goals of treatment are to minimize the contrast in color between your normal skin and skin patches that have lost pigment. 90003 90049 90050 If you are light-skinned, part of your treatment may be to protect your normal skin from tanning by using sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.90051 90050 90053 Topical treatments 90054 can be helpful in some people. These are applied directly to the skin. Steroid creams or ointments are applied once a day for up to several months. These medications are not always effective, and they can thin the skin with continued use. Other medicines that may be helpful include tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel). 90051 90050 90053 Ultraviolet B light treatment 90054 can be effective for treating vitiligo in many patients.Ultraviolet light can be provided by a hand-held light box for smaller areas of skin. People who have many areas of skin involved can be treated by putting on goggles and standing inside a closet-sized light box for several minutes. The treatment must be repeated often, usually for three times a week and for at least six months. Side effects, which should be discussed thoroughly with your dermatologist, include itching, pain and sunburn as well as increased risk of skin cancers. 90051 90050 90053 Psoralen plus ultraviolet A light treatment (commonly called PUVA) 90054 causes slightly more pronounced side effects than ultraviolet B light therapy, but it is another way to treat vitiligo.Psoralens are drugs that cause skin to darken when they react with ultraviolet A light. They can be applied as a cream or taken as pills. After the psoralen medicine is used, you are exposed to ultraviolet light. PUVA treatment is not for pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding or children younger than 10. There is also an increased risk of skin cancers. 90051 90050 90053 Oral medicines that suppress your immune system 90054 can sometimes allow normal pigment to return. For people who have large skin areas involved, oral steroids sometimes are used instead of steroids applied to the skin.This treatment is seldom used because of potential side effects of oral steroids. 90051 90050 For people with severe vitiligo, 90053 depigmentation 90054 can remove the color from normal skin, making all of the skin the same white color. A bleaching solution is applied daily for up to 12 months. It may be two or three months before you see any effects. About 95 percent of people will be depigmented within 12 months, and must then meticulously avoid sun exposure. Side effects can occur in up to 50 percent of those treated, and include skin redness, dryness, itching and burning, especially on the face.This treatment is rarely used because the skin without pigment is vulnerable to damage from sun exposure. 90051 90050 90053 Surgical treatments — 90054 These include skin grafting and other techniques to place healthy melanocytes into the skin affected by vitiligo. These options may not work well in all patients; for example, they are usually avoided for people who tend to form a lot of scar tissue in the skin. 90051 90076 90002 For many, «cosmetic camouflage» may be the best option.Spray tanning products and foundation-based cosmetics are often recommended when vitiligo affects skin in highly visible areas, such as the hands, face or neck. 90003 90004 When To Call a Professional 90005 90002 If you notice that patches of skin appear white, contact your doctor for an examination. Treatment may be most helpful if it can be started when only a small area of ​​skin is affected. It is very important to wear sunscreen to protect the areas affected by vitiligo, since these areas are especially at risk for sunburn and for skin cancers.90003 90004 Prognosis 90005 90002 For most people with vitiligo, this condition slowly worsens without treatment or needs continued treatment. 90003 90004 Learn more about Vitiligo 90005 90089 Associated drugs 90090 90089 Mayo Clinic Reference 90090 90093 External resources 90094 90002 90053 American Academy of Dermatology 90054 90098 http://www.aad.org/ 90003 90002 90003 90098 90004 Further information 90005 90002 Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.90003 90002 Medical Disclaimer 90003.90000 What you need to know about vitiligo 90001 90002 90003 90004 About vitiligo 90005 90006 90003 90004 What you need to know about vitiligo 90003 90004 What is vitiligo? 90011 90004 vitiligo myth-busting 90011 90004 Types of vitiligo 90011 90004 Is vitiligo hereditary? 90011 90004 What causes vitiligo? 90011 90004 Is there a way to prevent vitiligo? 90011 90004 Signs or symptoms 90011 90004 Seeking a diagnosis and what to expect 90011 90004 Receiving your diagnosis — what now? 90011 90004 Is there a vitiligo cure? 90011 90004 Life with vitiligo 90011 90032 90011 90032 90003 90004 Living with vitiligo 90003 90004 Counselling 90011 90004 Suncare 90011 90004 Nutrition 90011 90004 Kids 90011 90032 90011 90032 90003 90004 Vitiligo treatments 90003 90004 Treatment decisions 90011 90004 UV light treatments 90011 90004 Protopic & Elidel 90011 90004 Steroid creams 90011 90004 Other treatments 90011 90032 90011 90032 90003 90004 Skin camouflage 90003 90004 How do I get a consultation? 90011 90004 Applying camouflage 90011 90004 Fake tans 90011 90004 Other camouflage methods 90011 90004 Camouflage hot tips 90011 90032 90011 90032 90003 90004 Research 90003 90004 Identifying key components for psychological intervention for people with vitiligo 90011 90004 Piperine update report 90011 90004 Quality of life and psychological aspects research 90011 90004 Thyroid disease and skin cancer 90011 90004 Segmental vitiligo and the classification of vitiligo 90011 90004 Koebner phenomenon and halo naevi 90011 90004 Pathogenesis how vitiligo develops 90011 90004 Genetic and epidermis research 90011 90004 Systemic treatments 90011 90004 Surgical treatments 90011 90004 Topical light and laser treatments 90011 90032 90011 90032 90011 90004 Health professionals 90111 90006 90003 90004 General Information 90003 90004 Bad commissioning report 90011 90004 GP guidelines 90011 90032 90011 90032 90003 90004 Research for medical professionals 90003 90004 Epidermis research 90011 90004 Genetic research 90011 90004 Halo Naevi 90011 90004 Koebner phenomenon 90011 90004 Pathogenesis 90011 90004 Laser treatment research 90011 90004 Quality of life and psychological aspects 90011 90004 Segmental vitiligo 90011 90004 Surgical treatments 90011 90004 Systemic treatments 90011 90004 Topical and ultraviolet treatments 90011 90004 Vitiligo and skin cancer 90011 90004 Vitiligo and thyroid disease 90011 90032 90011 90032 90011 90004 The VitLife 90011 90004 About us 90159 90006 90003 90004 About The Vitiligo Society 90003 90004 Board of Trustees 90011 90004 Patrons 90011 90004 Ambassadors 90011 90004 Skin Deep mobile app 90011 90004 Useful links 90011 90174 90032 90011 90032 90011 90032.