Vitiligo

VITILIGO

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

    • 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

    • Appearance and Epidemiology of Vitiligo

  • 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

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