Vitiligo

This page was written by Shelley Ensz and has not yet been medically edited. See disclaimer.

What is Vitiligo?
Causes of Vitiligo

Diagnosis of Vitiligo
Treatments for Vitiligo

Vitiligo Research
Vitiligo Support

Vitiligo Stories

What is Vitiligo?

"Vitiligo is a skin condition of white patches resulting from loss of pigment. Any part of the body may be affected." American Academy of Dermatology.

Vitiligo (vit-ill-EYE-go) is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) in the skin, the mucous membranes (tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose and genital and rectal areas), and the retina (inner layer of the eyeball) are destroyed. NIH Publication No. 01-4909, 2001. NIAMS.

Causes of Vitiligo

Early disease onset and increased risk of other autoimmune diseases in familial generalized vitiligo. Familial generalized vitiligo is characterized by earlier disease onset and a broader repertoire of associated autoimmune diseases than sporadic vitiligo. This most likely reflects a greater inherited genetic component of autoimmune susceptibility in these families. These findings have important implications for autoimmune disease surveillance in families in which multiple members are affected with vitiligo. PubMed. Pigment Cell Res. 2005 Aug;18(4):300-5.

Autoimmunity and vitiligo. These observations support the concept that, at least in some types of vitiligo, autoimmune mechanisms are operating to produce the disease. PubMed. Pigment Cell Res. 2003 Oct;16(5):589. (Also see: Thyroid Disease)

Diagnosis of Vitiligo

How is Vitiligo Diagnosed? NIH Publication No. 01-4909, 2001. NIAMS.

Photos of Vitiligo Symptoms. University of Maryland Medicine.

Treatments for Vitiligo

What Treatment Options are Available for Vitiligo? The goal of treating vitiligo is to restore the function of the skin and to improve the patient's appearance. Therapy for vitiligo takes a long time—it usually must be continued for 6 to 18 months. The choice of therapy depends on the number of white patches and how widespread they are and on the patient's preference for treatment. NIH Publication No. 01-4909, 2001. NIAMS.

Chickpeas can cure skin disease: BHU scientists. Chickpeas hold the cure for leucoderma, a chronic skin disease that causes loss of pigment, resulting in white spots or patches on the skin, claim scientists of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The Times of India. 01/27/09.

Vitiligo Research

Autoimmune diseases in vitiligo: do anti-nuclear antibodies decrease thyroid volume? AT (autoimmune thyroiditis) is the most frequent autoimmune disease associated with vitiligo. In our patients, AT presented simultaneously or after the onset of vitiligo but not before. Elevated ANA levels were associated with the atrophic variant of AT and may affect the volume of the thyroid gland. PubMed. Clin Exp Immunol 2003 Feb;131(2):347-54 (Also see: Thyroid Disease)

Vitiligo Support

National Vitiligo Foundation. Includes medical information and support groups. Contact the National Vitiligo Foundation (International) at 76 Garden Rd, Columbus, OH 43214. Phone: (614) 261-8145. NVFI.

Vitiligo Personal Stories

Audley: Mother of Linear Morphea (en coup de sabre) Patient After one diagnosis of Vitiligo, my motherly intuition told me that the diagnosis was not correct...

Dawn M: Linear/Systemic Scleroderma My family and I were informed by the doctors, that the localized/linear form of scleroderma that I was diagnosed with, would never progress into the potentially fatal, systemic form...

Emmi: Linear Scleroderma and Vitiligo My parents thought I was going to die, and doctors here in Finland did not really know what to do with me. There are not many scleroderma cases in Finland...

Heather: Vitiligo, Hypothyroidism, and now Linear Morphea I am not too concerned about the other two conditions since there really is nothing you can do about the vitiligo, and the thyroid is under control. The morphea is what is bugging me...

Jan L: Linear Scleroderma and Vitiligo I was not ever overly concerned with my looks, so I really did not pay that much attention to it...

Jenny M: Morphea Scleroderma I was told it was a fungus, then that it was clearly all in my head. I went to a dermatologist who told me I had vitiligo, and then that it was lichen sclerosis...

Leslie R: Scleroderma, Vitiligo, Lupus, Anemia, Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes He told me that I have scleroderma and explained what this disease is about. After suffering so long I finally got some answers...

Marina F: Sjogren's Syndrome and Vitiligo (Italy) For quite a few years now I have had problems such as eczema in my ear, vitiligo, nodules in the thyroid, dry eyes with a positive Schirmer's test, and vertigo...

(Italiano) Marina F: Sindrome di Sjogren, Vitiligo Ho 47 anni e da diversi anni soffro di vari problemi quali: eczema alle orecchie, vitiligine, noduli tiroidei, secchezza oculare con test di schirmer positivo, e vertigini...

Rosie: Limited Systemic Sclerosis (Australia) Some of my symptoms may not be due to limited scleroderma, however most of these symptoms have appeared since my diagnosis...

Tammy M: Linear Scleroderma and Vitiligo When I was first diagnosed there was no such thing as the Internet. I always felt that my family and I were the only ones in the world who knew what scleroderma was...

Wendy B: Mother of Daughter with Morphea and Vitiligo Does anyone else have Morphea and vitiligo? And what is the outcome?