"Vitiligo" - Medical English

One of my patients complained that patches on her neck and upper arms would never tan.
When I inspected the areas, it almost looked as if someone had spilt white matt paint on her brown skin.

Sometimes this common condition is confused with a fungus infection but it is, in fact, only an area of skin bereft of pigment cells which contain melanin -- which turns skin brown in sunlight.

The condition is called vitiligo, which means "white skin". In the UK, up to half a million people suffer from this skin problem and people of all ethnic backgrounds and ages can be affected.

The commonest sites to find this condition are on the face, neck and hands. It can also occur around body openings such as the eyes, nostrils and genitals and folded skin sites such as armpits and groins. Scars or other areas of injury, including grazes and burns, can also be afflicted by pigment loss.

Although re-pigmentation can occur, the condition is progressive. Fortunately, vitiligo is not infectious, dangerous or painful -- except in the sun when, without its protective pigment, the skin burns more readily.

No one knows what causes vitiligo. Many things may trigger off the condition such as emotional stress or the hormonal changes during puberty and pregnancy. Skin injury due to burns or trauma is also closely associated with it. One thing is certain, no one is born with vitiligo.

Many doctors think of the condition as an autoimmune disease. To protect ourselves, the body produces antibodies in response to infection and injury. In autoimmune diseases, these antibodies are directed against the body's own tissues. Vitiligo sufferers have been found to have higher than normal concentrations of antibodies to their own pigment cells.

Sadly, at present, there is no cure for vitiligo but there are a number of treatments.

One of the best things to do is to try to forget your white patches, except when you go out into countryside or the sea -- then use lots of suntan lotion. Cosmetic camouflage can be very useful for work, parties and special occasions.

Hello, what is the best way to get this treatment in Malta? My doctor gave Elidel cream for the vitiligo patches but of no use whatsoever so now I am desperate for something else.

Hi...

How long have you been using this cream?Has he made mention that this will disappear though.It is scary and are these creams available in South Africa?

I have it also on my neck and want it depseralty to go away.i use a cream diprolene.I have been using this for a week now.

Thank you for your time.

Amanda

Someone made a very gross error in stating that no one is born with vitiligo, because I was! I have had it since birth and it covers several different areas. I have hardly no pigment in my right hand and very little in my left hand. My stomach has hardly any pigment and it is so bad on part of my right leg that the hair is white!! The skin on my arms that is not affected tans and that really shows off the problem in my hands. I get sun burned easily and most sunscreen does absolutely nothing for me. At least I have not found one that does yet. It is hard when I have to mow the lawn and do outside stuff. It seems to be getting worse on my head though because I noticed more on there and my hair is turning gray way too early for my family history to be a cause. (Though that could be my two kids!) I am almost 33 now and have been living with the problem though it would be nice to have a normal skin tone all over!!

Are the spots gone, have any additional spots appeared?  Are there any side effects from the medication.

I have a spot on my arm, I am considering asking my Derm for this treatment