Should I be worried about vitiligo?

Vitiligo does not pose a serious threat to one's health, but it can result in physical complications, such as eye issues, hearing problems, and sunburn. People with vitiligo also tend to be more likely to have another autoimmune disease (like thyroid disorders and some types of anemia).

What happens if you don't treat vitiligo?

If vitiligo is not treated, it may spread extensively to involve various skin areas. Rarely, some patches may go away or decrease in size. Although vitiligo is neither dangerous nor it causes symptoms, such as pain or itch, the sufferers may be upset and stressed because of the way their skin appears.

Can a healthy person get vitiligo?

Anyone can get vitiligo, and it can develop at any age. However, for many people with vitiligo, the white patches begin to appear before age 20, and can start in early childhood.

What is the chance of getting vitiligo?

How common is vitiligo? Vitiligo occurs in about 1% or slightly more of the population throughout the world. Vitiligo affects all races and genders equally; however, it is more visible in people with darker skin. Although vitiligo can develop in anyone at any age, it most commonly appears in people ages 10 to 30 years.

Is vitiligo a life threatening disease?

Vitiligo affects people of all skin types, but it may be more noticeable in people with brown or Black skin. The condition is not life-threatening or contagious. It can be stressful or make you feel bad about yourself.

How can one prevent spreading of vitiligo? - Dr. Nischal K

Should I marry someone with vitiligo?

A person with vitiligo marrying another person with vitiligo is medically not recommended as there is a slightly higher chance of it passing on to the next generation," Tawade said.

Do I need to see a doctor for vitiligo?

Important to get medical care. Many people who have vitiligo are often otherwise healthy. Even so, it's important to find a doctor like a dermatologist who knows about vitiligo. People who have vitiligo have a higher risk of getting some other medical conditions.

What triggers vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a skin condition that changes pigmentation. Vitiligo triggers include autoimmune disease, neurogenic factors, genetics, sunburn, stress and chemical exposure.

Are all white patches vitiligo?

Hypopigmented spots that are NOT vitiligo. If the spots are not truly white, but hypopigmented and not depigmented (they don't enhance by Wood's lamp), then they are NOT vitiligo and could be any number of different diseases and conditions. I'll list a few of the most common ones here.

Can Covid cause vitiligo?

Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease and vaccines have been associated to various skin reactions, which are mostly similar amongst them. New onset of vitiligo and hypopigmentations have been described following COVID-19 vaccination, but never after COVID-19 infection.

What famous person has vitiligo?

1. Winnie Harlow. Winnie Harlow is undoubtedly the modern face of vitiligo. The young model has chosen to embrace her spots, and is a public spokesperson for vitiligo, too.

Does vitiligo start as small dots?

At first, this might cause a small spot, called a macule, that's lighter in color than the skin around it. In time these white patches may spread and grow to cover a larger portion of the body. Sometimes these white patches spread quickly at first and then remain stable for years.

Can vitiligo be caused by stress?

Likewise, both emotional and physical stress can trigger vitiligo. It is a complex skin condition that involves both faulty genes and environmental factors. Melanocytes are more likely exposed to harmful chemicals induced amid emotional stress.

Can vitiligo go away naturally?

In 1 out of every 5 to 10 people, some or all of the pigment eventually returns on its own and the white patches disappear. For most people, however, the whitened skin patches last and grow larger if vitiligo is not treated. Vitiligo is a lifelong condition.

How fast can vitiligo spread?

It spreads very quickly, faster than the other forms, but only for about 6 months (sometimes up to a year). It's such a rapid pace that patients assume it will soon cover their entire body, but it stops abruptly and usually remains stable, without changing, forever after that.

Does vitiligo ever stop progressing?

Phototherapy with narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB) has been shown to stop or slow the progression of active vitiligo. It might be more effective when used with corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors. You'll need therapy two to three times a week.

Can you have mild vitiligo?

In cases of mild vitiligo, the patient can camouflage some of the white patches with colored, cosmetic creams and makeup. They should select tones that best match their skin features. If creams and makeup are correctly applied, they can last 12 to 18 hours on the face and up to 96 hours for the rest of the body.

Is vitiligo considered a rare disease?

Vitiligo is a common disorder, affecting between 0.5 percent and 1 percent of the population worldwide. However, many cases may not be reported, and some researchers suggest the condition may affect up to 1.5 percent of the population.

How can I test my vitiligo at home?

There are no at-home tests available to diagnose vitiligo. However, you can do a general self-check of your skin and look for patchy or widespread loss of pigmentation (the coloring of your skin, hair, and eyes).

Can you suddenly develop vitiligo?

People can develop vitiligo at any age, but approximately one-half of cases are diagnosed either in childhood or before someone turns 20. The first signs of vitiligo are white patches on the skin, which can develop anywhere on the body, including on the face, arms, hands, genitals, and buttocks.

Does vitiligo worsen with age?

Like many skin conditions, it is not possible to predict in each individual when the vitiligo will eventually stop occurring. Without treatment most people with vitiligo will continue to notice their condition getting worse over several years.

Is sunlight good for vitiligo?

Because vitiligo is characterized by a loss of color, it makes sense that sunlight would bring some of that color back. Light therapy is recommended by some dermatologists to help vitiligo patients achieve some desired effects.

Does sunlight make vitiligo worse?

Vitiligo does not get worse with sun exposure, but it can increase the risk of other problems, making it vital that patients pay close attention to the time spent outdoors and exposure to UVA and UVB rays.

Can vitiligo be misdiagnosed?

Vitiligo is a common skin condition with characteristic milky white patches of irregular shape. However, several other skin conditions exhibit similar symptoms that can lead to a misdiagnosis of vitiligo. Broadly speaking, loss of skin pigmentation is called leukoderma.

Is there a reverse vitiligo?

No treatments can cure vitiligo. For most people, the goal of treatment is to stop vitiligo from spreading and to bring color back to affected areas of skin. The existing treatments can help, but it is rare for them to make vitiligo go away permanently.