What it is
Vitiligo, commonly known as leucoderma, is a skin condition in which white patches develop on the skin. It affects nearly one to two per cent of the population. It can develop at any age but is commonest in young adults, with most cases starting between 15 and 30. Patches can stay in one place, follow one segment of the body, or affect several different parts. Sometimes only the tips of the fingers, the toes and the lips are involved.
What causes it
Melanin is the pigment that determines the colour of skin, hair and nails, and it is made in cells called melanocytes. In vitiligo those cells die or cannot form melanin, and milky-white patches result. The exact cause is not known. In 5 to 10 per cent of cases it can be hereditary, though it follows no set pattern of inheritance. It is not due to any allergy and not due to any deficiency in the diet.
Patches can develop where the skin has been injured, and in a susceptible person at sites where a bindi, hair dye or plastic and rubber footwear are used. Severe stress and strain can bring it on. Vitiligo does not spread from one person to another.
How we treat it
The main aim of treatment is to stimulate the repigmentation process. PUVA — psoralen with ultraviolet A light — is one of the treatments used. The medicine is taken by mouth two hours before exposure to the light, or applied to the skin when the vitiligo is localised. Treatment is usually given twice weekly and may be needed for up to a year, under close supervision by your dermatologist. The face, trunk, legs and forearms tend to improve more than the hands, feet and lips. Localised and resistant patches can also be treated with targeted phototherapy.
Corticosteroid creams and tablets are needed in certain situations. Camouflage creams and make-up make the patches less noticeable, and sunscreen protects exposed patches from burning. Response varies with the type of vitiligo, the site, how long it has been present and the individual, and is often better in children, in young adults and when treatment starts early.
“A patient with vitiligo can marry, lead a normal life & have children.” — Dr. D. A. Satish, patient leaflet
This page is being updated. The clinic is reviewing this information against current practice. Please ask the doctor at your consultation.