What is Vitiligo?

What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a pigment disorder of the skin. It manifests as white patches on the skin. The causes are unknown. This pigment disorder can also be cosmetically disturbing. Many people with vitiligo feel subjected to prejudice.

At a glance

• Vitiligo is a pigment disorder of the skin: The skin no longer produces pigment in certain areas, leading to the formation of white patches.
• Vitiligo does not cause any discomfort and is not contagious.
• Many people with vitiligo find the skin changes stressful because they are often subjected to prejudice.
• Medication and light therapy can partially improve pigmentation.
• The patches can also be covered with certain types of makeup.
• It is important to protect the affected skin areas from external irritants such as sunlight.
• Note: The information in this article cannot replace a doctor’s examination and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment.

What is white spot disease (vitiligo)?

Vitiligo is a pigment disorder that leads to the loss of melanin, the brown skin pigment. It is also known as white spot disease.

Pigments are usually produced by specific skin cells called melanocytes. These skin cells are likely damaged due to a defense reaction (autoimmune reaction) of the body, thus no longer producing pigment. As a result, white patches form on the skin.

Vitiligo usually appears between the ages of 10 and 30. The white patches are commonly seen on the face, hands, and feet. Sometimes, the patches appear in only one area as “localized vitiligo.” If they appear on various parts of the body and usually cover a large area, it is called “generalized vitiligo.”

Certain treatments can partially support the regeneration of pigments.

What are the typical symptoms of vitiligo?

The skin’s pigmentation disorder usually does not cause any symptoms. However, some people with vitiligo report feeling an itch when new depigmented skin patches form.

The poorly pigmented spots, ranging from light-colored to white, are distinctly noticeable from the normally pigmented skin, especially on dark skin. Initially, the patches are a few millimeters to centimeters in size and are oval, round, or linear in shape. In later stages of the disease, the patches can merge to form larger areas.

White patches can appear all over the body. They are often found on the face, especially around the mouth and eyes, as well as on the hands, feet, and genital organs.

They can also form on the neck, elbows, and ankles due to friction. Doctors refer to this as the Köbner phenomenon.

What are the causes of vitiligo?

The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown. Genetic predisposition may play a role: About 25 to 50 percent of people with vitiligo have a family history of the disease.

How common is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is one of the most common pigment disorders. It affects all population groups and approximately 2 percent of people worldwide.

How does vitiligo progress?

Vitiligo is a chronic disease that can progress in very different ways. If it starts at an early age, the disease usually progresses more quickly, and the area of depigmented skin increases.

In many people with vitiligo, the disease progresses in phases, with periods of no pigment loss and phases of increased pigment loss. In some patients, pigments may spontaneously reappear in some affected areas of the skin.

Although treatments can improve the skin’s pigmentation, there is no definitive cure for vitiligo.

How is vitiligo diagnosed?

Vitiligo is recognized by its typical light or white patches.

A thorough medical examination will help understand the severity of the disease. During this time, the following factors are considered:

• Age at onset of the disease
• Spread and variety of patches
• Other diseases, especially autoimmune diseases
• Contact with chemicals or radiation
• Medication use
• Family history of vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases

Doctors use Wood’s light to identify vitiligo. This is a specific UV-A light that can detect pigment changes in the skin that are not yet visible to the naked eye.

How is vitiligo treated?

If the pigment disorder progresses rapidly, anti-inflammatory steroids are usually used. These are expected to slow the spread and can be used alone or with UV-B light therapy.

Depigmented skin is very sensitive to sunlight and cannot tan, so it cannot protect itself. Creams or sprays with high UV-A and UV-B sun protection factors compensate for the skin’s lack of self-protection, thus also preventing skin cancer. During summer, long clothing or special garments proven to protect against UV light also provide protection from excessive sunlight.

Coping with stress in daily life: What can help?

People with vitiligo often feel they face prejudice. Some children may be teased or even bullied at school because of their appearance. These experiences can weaken self-confidence, reduce the quality of life, and sometimes lead to psychological problems. Psychological support can be helpful in these cases.

In everyday life, some people find it helpful to camouflage the patches, especially on the face, with cover-up makeup.