Vitiligo
| Vitiligo | |
|---|---|
| Non-segmental vitiligo of the hand | |
| Pronunciation |
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| Specialty | Dermatology |
| Symptoms | Patches of white skin |
| Usual onset | Childhood, young adult |
| Duration | Long term |
| Causes | Unknown |
| Risk factors | Family history, other autoimmune diseases |
| Diagnostic method | Tissue biopsy |
| Treatment | Sunscreen, makeup, topical corticosteroids, phototherapy |
| Frequency | 0.1–2.1% |
Vitiligo (/ˌvɪtɪˈlaɪɡoʊ/ VIT-ih-LY-goh) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but it may be related to immune system changes, genetic factors, stress, or sun exposure, and susceptibility to it may be affected by regional environmental risk factors, especially early in life. Treatment options include topical medications, light therapy, surgery and cosmetics. The condition causes patches of light-peach colored skin that vary in size and can appear anywhere on the body; in particular, nonsegmental vitiligo, the common form, tends to progress, affecting more of the skin over time. Vitiligo spots on the skin can also vary in pigmentation over long periods, although they will stay in relatively the same areas.