What Is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a disease of the skin that causes loss of skin color in patches on the body with the discolored areas usually getting bigger over time.

This condition can affect the skin on any part of your body. Vitiligo is a long-lasting disorder that causes areas of your skin to lose their color turning the skin a milky-white color in the affected areas – regardless of your skin color.

Signs and Symptoms of Vitilgo

The most common symptom of vitiligo is loss of your skin’s natural color with the affected, skin patches showing up on any part of your body usually on the face, arms, hands and feet. Another less common symptom is your hair turning white near your scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes and beard.

Causes of Vitiligo

Vitiligo occurs when cells that produce melanin die or stop functioning. This condition is not contagious and no one knows the exact cause of it. Also, your family history and genes may play a role in causing vitiligo.

Vitiligo Treatments

How we treat your vitiligo with you will depend on your age; how much skin area is involved; where and how quickly the disease is progressing; and how it’s affecting your life.

With vitiligo it’s also important to understand that even if your treatment is successful for a while, the results may not last or new patches may appear.

Our treatment options include:

  • Medications – we may use some prescription drugs in combination with light therapy to help restore some skin tone
  • Light therapy

Our team will work with you to recommend the best treatment for you and what can be accomplished.