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Vitiligo is a long-term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment. 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. The hair that grows in areas affected by vitiligo sometimes turns white. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but research suggests that it may arise from autoimmune, genetic, oxidative stress, neural, or viral causes. The immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys certain cells within the body. Oxidative stress sets off a chain reaction that damages melanocytes (the cells that make pigment). Vitiligo is not contagious. There is no known cure for vitiligo. Treatments attempt to stop or slow the progression of depigmentation and attempt to return some color to the skin. Sunscreen should always be applied to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation present in sunlight. Sometimes, vitiligo begins after a person has been exposed to industrial chemicals such as phenol, peroxide, or tar; or after they have suffered an injury such as a burn or cut on their skin. In other cases, it occurs with the onset of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes mellitus and Hashimoto’s disease (thyroiditis). There are rare cases where vitiligo is associated with certain genetic conditions including albinism, Addison’s disease (adrenocortical insufficiency), pernicious anemia (B12 deficiency), and congenital deafness.

Signs and Symptoms of Vitiligo

The main symptom of vitiligo is depigmentation, or the loss of skin color in blotches. It can affect your skin, hair, and mucous membranes, such as those found in the inside of your mouth and nose. The extent and rate of color loss from vitiligo is unpredictable. It may affect a few areas of your skin or may spread to involve larger areas or even your entire body. It can also involve the hair on any part of your body and affect the color of your eyes and inside your mouth.

Some people with vitiligo have symptoms that tend to be more severe than others, including:

  • Severe itching
  • Hair turning gray early
  • Vision problems
  • Hearing loss

The exact cause of vitiligo isn’t known, but it could be related to:

Autoimmune disease. Vitiligo may occur when cells that produce melanin are destroyed by your immune system. This causes patches of skin to become lighter or white.

Heredity. Vitiligo can run in families, but most people who get the disorder aren’t closely related to anyone else with it.

The most common signs and symptoms of vitiligo include:

  • Loss of skin color in the form of depigmented, or white, patches of skin in any location on the body
  • Premature whitening or graying of the hair on your scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard
  • Loss of color in the tissues that line the inside of your mouth and nose (mucous membranes)
  • Loss of or change in color of the inner layer of the eyeball (retina)
  • If you have dark skin, your vitiligo may be more noticeable.

Causes and Risk Factors for Vitiligo

The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but researchers believe it may arise from autoimmune, genetic, oxidative stress, neural, or viral causes.

Autoimmune disease. Researchers believe the body’s immune system may mistakenly attack and destroy pigment cells.

Genetics. The disorder tends to run in families.

Oxidative stress caused by free radicals accumulating in the body’s cells (antioxidants protect against free radicals).

Neural factors. Some scientists think vitiligo might be related to problems with certain nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control pigmentation.

Viruses. Some research suggests a possible link to certain viral infections.

Risk factors for this condition include:

  • Family history: People who have a family member with vitiligo are more likely to get it themselves.
  • Autoimmune diseases: People who have autoimmune diseases like hyperthyroidism, Addison disease, type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia, or alopecia areata may be at increased risk for vitiligo.
  • Sunburn or stress: Some people with vitiligo see their symptoms worsen after a period of sunburn or emotional stress.

How Is Vitiligo Diagnosed?

There is no single test for diagnosing vitiligo. Your doctor will start with a visual examination and ask about your medical history. You may be asked to keep track of when and where new patches appear. The doctor will also want to rule out other diseases or conditions that cause a loss of skin color. These include the following:

  • Albinism
  • Lupus erythematosus
  • Pernicious anemia — a condition in which the body cannot absorb vitamin B12 from food
  • Addison disease — an adrenal gland disorder

Some types of thyroid disease

Your doctor may do one or more exams or tests, including the following: Skin biopsy — a lab test that looks closely at a small sample of skin to check for signs of vitiligo. Blood tests — to check your thyroid, vitamin B12 levels, and other substances in your blood. Wood’s light exam — a special lamp that can show the difference between normal skin and skin affected by vitiligo.

Duration of Vitiligo

How long does vitiligo last? It depends. The condition can be progressive for a few years, and then remain stable for the rest of your life. In some cases, it can spontaneously stop spreading and even repigment on its own. There is no cure for vitiligo, but treatments are available to help restore pigment to affected areas of skin or hair. This article will discuss how long vitiligo lasts, treatment options, and more.

The duration of vitiligo is different for every patient. Some people may have a small number of patches that do not progress, while others may be affected by widespread vitiligo over several years.

Vitiligo can affect people at any age, but typically starts in those between the ages of 10 and 30 years. It is more common in females and individuals with a family history of the condition.

Treatment and Medication Options for Vitiligo

There are many treatment and medication options for vitiligo because it has no cure. The most common treatment is to use sunblock lotion daily, but this doesn’t work for everyone. And of course there are many different types of lotions, creams and ointments, which can also be used to treat vitiligo. There is also a laser treatment that helps in some cases but needs to be performed every few months, and sometimes there are other treatment options that can be done at home or that you can buy over-the-counter in stores.

Treatment options include:

  • Topical steroids – these can help repigment the skin if applied regularly
  • Light therapy – this involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light in combination with medications
  • Depigmentation – this involves applying a topical cream to unpigmented areas so they match perceived areas of pigment loss
  • Laser therapy – this involves using laser light to target small areas of depigmentation
  • Surgery – this involves transplanting pigment cells from one area of the body to another

Complications of and Conditions Related to Vitiligo

The complications of vitiligo are minor, but they can be upsetting. These include:

  • Social or psychological distress from the appearance of the skin.
  • Hair loss (including eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair).
  • Eye problems, such as inflammation of the iris (iritis or uveitis).
  • Sunburn or sun sensitivity.

Complications associated with vitiligo may include:

Tendency to sunburn on areas where skin pigment is lost. As a result, you need to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays by using sunscreen and wearing clothing that covers your skin when you’re in the sun.

Hearing loss in some people with extensive vitiligo. Researchers don’t know whether hearing loss is caused by vitiligo or whether both conditions share a common cause that isn’t known. Hearing loss also can be a complication of treatment for vitiligo — in particular, treatment with PUVA light therapy that combines psoralen with exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) light.

Research and Statistics: How Many People Have Vitiligo

I’m not sure how many people I’ve seen with vitiligo, but I can guarantee you that every single one of them has been beautiful. They’re all free from blemishes and imperfections, and they make me feel like a complete idiot for having so much skin.

I wanted to see just how common this condition really is, so I did some research. According to the National Institutes of Health, vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that causes white patches to appear on the skin. It’s not contagious, but it’s more common in those who have darker skin. If you’ve ever had a white spot on your hand or you’ve seen someone who has a particularly wide range of skin tones, there’s a good chance that they have this condition. Vitiligo only affects about half a percent of the population, and when diagnosed early enough, it can be treated with injections or pills that help the body fight off the disease.

If you’ve been diagnosed with vitiligo, you may be able to enroll in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research studies that test how well new medical approaches work in people. Each study answers scientific questions and tries to find better ways to prevent, screen for, diagnose or treat a disease.

Is there a clinical trials for Vitiligo

Yes, there are many clinical trials for vitiligo going on right now. Many places are currently seeking people who have vitiligo to participate in studies on the condition. The trials range from studying the efficacy of different medications to the effectiveness of different treatments such as light therapy. If you visit your doctor, they may be able to put you in touch with a clinical trial appropriate for you.