Vitiligo (also known as Leukoderma) is a skin disorder that causes the skin to lose its pigmentation. It affects people of all ages, races and genders.

The condition is characterized by white patches on the skin, usually in areas exposed to the sun. The size of the patches can vary from small spots to large patches covering large portions of the body.

There are two types of vitiligo: Non-segmental vitiligo and Segmental vitiligo (also called Localized). In non-segmental vitiligo, white patches can appear anywhere on your body, but often appear symmetrically on both sides of your body. Segmental vitiligo usually appears before the age of 20 and generally affects only one side of your body.

In both cases, the disorder occurs when melanocytes (cells that make pigment) die or stop producing melanin – resulting in depigmented, or white patches of skin.

Vitiligo Vitiligo is a skin disorder in which the immune system attacks and destroys melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. The result is areas of uneven pigmentation, or loss of pigmentation (leukoderma).

Treating Vitiligo

The first line treatment for vitiligo is a topical steroid cream applied to the skin. When this does not work, a combination of mild corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitor drugs are used. These medications are typically applied to the entire body to prevent reoccurrence.

A newer treatment that has shown promising results is phototherapy. This involves exposing the affected areas to UV light on a regular schedule. While this treatment has helped some patients, it has not worked for others and may have negative long-term side effects such as skin cancer and eye damage.

Another relatively new treatment for vitiligo is grafting pigment cells from unaffected areas onto the white spots. This procedure involves shaving off a thin layer of normal skin from an area away from the vitiligo marks and using it to cover the depigmented area with small pieces of skin containing melanocytes. The grafts are usually successful but they must be repeated at least once every year or two years because they do

Vitiligo (pronounced vit-ill-EYE-go) is the name for a condition in which the pigment cells of the skin are destroyed in certain areas. The involved patches of skin become lighter or white. This occurs because melanocytes, the cells that make pigment or color in the skin, are destroyed. The hair from the skin and even the retina at the back of the eye may lose some or all of their color. The disorder affects people of all races.

The causes of vitiligo are not known but there are several theories:

1] An autoimmune disease – an immune system that normally fights infection attacks and destroys certain cells within the body (melanocytes).

2] Genetic – having one or more family members with vitiligo increases your risk of also having it.

3] A trigger event such as sunburn, stress, or exposure to industrial chemicals – this may start vitiligo in people who are genetically predisposed to get it.

There is no cure for vitiligo. If you have vitiligo, you’ll need lifelong treatment to stop and possibly reverse pigment loss. Treatment can help even out your skin tone, cover up white patches, and prevent new patches from forming.

Vitiligo is a condition in which white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. This happens because the cells that make pigment (color) in the skin are destroyed.

Vitiligo affects all races, but it may be more noticeable in people with darker skin. The disorder most often begins before age 20, but it can start at any age.

Vitiligo affects 2 to 5 million people in the United States, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. It seems to run in families and occurs worldwide in all races. Vitiligo can begin at any age, but often appears between ages 10 and 30. Researchers are not sure what causes vitiligo. They believe it may be an autoimmune disorder. This means your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys certain cells within your body.

Vitiligo, however, is not contagious or infectious; it cannot be spread by physical contact or through breathing, coughing, sneezing, or touching toilet seats or doorknobs. There is no known cure for vitiligo, but there are treatments available to help camouflage or minimize its appearance.

Vitiligo is a long term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment. The patches of skin affected become white and usually have sharp margins. The hair from the skin may also become white. The inside of the mouth and nose may also be involved. Typically both sides of the body are affected.

Vitiligo occurs in about 1% of people. Affected people may initially develop it at any age, but often before age 20. Men and women are affected equally often. Vitiligo is believed to be an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system begins to attack certain cells within the body. Other diseases, such as thyroid disease and pernicious anemia, are more common among those with vitiligo. Both smoking and sunburns increase the risk of developing vitiligo. It is not infectious or contagious in any way.

Vitiligo is a disorder that causes depigmentation of portions of the skin. Any part of the body can be affected, and most people with vitiligo have white patches on many areas. The hair that grows on areas affected by vitiligo sometimes turns white.

Vitiligo affects people of all skin types, but it may be more noticeable in people with darker skin. It occurs worldwide, and affects all races equally.

Vitiligo is not contagious; only about one in ten people with vitiligo have a family history of the disease. Although the exact cause is not known, researchers believe vitiligo develops when melanocytes (the cells that produce pigment) die or stop producing pigment. The process usually starts as small areas of pigment loss that spread with time. The immune system may cause vitiligo by mistakenly attacking and destroying pigment cells.

Other research has indicated that oxidative stress might play a role in triggering this autoimmune process. Oxidative stress increases when there is an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals in your body. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food or when you are exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and might contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Your

Vitiligo (vit-ill-EYE-go) is a disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches. The extent and rate of color loss from vitiligo is unpredictable. It can affect the skin on any part of your body. It may also affect hair and the inside of the mouth.

Normally, the color of hair and skin is determined by melanin. Vitiligo occurs when the cells that produce melanin die or stop functioning. Vitiligo affects all races, but it may be more noticeable in people with darker skin. The condition is not life-threatening or contagious. It can be stressful or make you feel bad about yourself.

If you have vitiligo, try not to worry about it. Many treatments are available to help even out your skin tone. Some people opt for treatments to cover white patches of skin with a healthy tone, such as through tanning or makeup.