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VITILIGO

Vitiligo is one of the most common skin diseases, and yet the vast majority of people have never even heard the name.  Because vitiligo is not life threatening, statistics on its prevalence are not routinely collected.  On the basis of various clinical studies around the world, it is generally estimated to affect 1-4% of all races and populations.  This implies that over half a million people in the UK alone have vitiligo.

 Symptoms and Causes

Vitiligo can affect anyone of any age and either sex.  In those who have the condition, patches so skin turn white, and in some cases their hair can also lose its color in patches.  Although it has no effect on their general physical health, the white patches may spread over time and are highly vulnerable to sunburn, even when only briefly exposed to mild sunshine.  On exposes areas such as the face and hands it can be very disfiguring, especially on dark or tanned skin.  Many people who have vitiligo find it socially and psychologically devastating, and can lose their self esteem and self confidence.

 The causes are not yet properly understood, but there is growing evidence that the disease is genetic in origin.

 There are other skin conditions, particularly fungal infections, which can easily be mistaken for vitiligo.  If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, a referral to a hospital dermatology (skin) clinic is advised.

 Treatments

An outright cure has not yet been found, but there are recognized treatments which can sometimes bring color back into the white patches or at least control their spread, although there is no guarantee that they will work in any individual case.

One of these treatments is the use of steroid creams on the affected areas at the onset of the disease. This can sometimes stop the spread of the patches or, even restore some of the lost color.  This treatment is usually given only for a limited period under medical supervision.

The other  treatment involves the use of drugs called psoralens, which make the skin sensitive to light.  The skin is then exposed to ultra-violet A light.  This treatment, usually called PUVA (psoralen + UVA), can encourage the natural color to come back within the white patches.  In the UK, PUVA is normally available only as a hospital outpatient treatment, and it should always be supervised by a dermatologist (skin specialist).

Complementary treatments, including herbal and homeopathic remedies, can be very expensive.  They may sometimes work, but there is no proof of this and there could be unforeseen side effects.  The patient should be cautious and should never take any medicine or pills without knowing what they contain.  It is important to inform the GP about any treatments undertaken, and to make sure that the complementary practitioner consulted is properly qualified and registered with a recognized professional body.  Anyone who claims to offer a ‘cure’ should be avoided.

For those who are troubled by their appearance, concealing the white patches may improve self confidence.  There are cover creams which are specially designed for this purpose and are suitable for use by men, women and teenagers alike. The Skin Camouflage Service of the Red Cross has a  network of clinics which advise on the use of cover creams.  Some people prefer to use self-tanning creams (sometimes called fake tans), which are available over the counter at most chemists or beauty counters.

It is important to protect the white patches from the sun.  These patches are wholly or partly lacking in the pigment which is the skin’s natural protection against sunburn.  Allowing the skin to burn can encourage the vitiligo to spread.  The patches should be protected from the sun by clothing or by the use of a high protection sun block.  Some brands of sun block which have a sun protection factor of 15 or above are classified as borderline substances and can be obtained on prescription.

Children and young people

Children with vitiligo cope best if parents answer their questions about their condition truthfully and simply.  They need to be reassured that it will not affect their family’s feelings towards them.  They can have problems with bullying and teasing at school, which may be overcome by explaining vitiligo to teachers and enlisting their help.

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need more help click here Vitiligo Society UK