Autoimmune Diseases Skin

Vitiligo

Overview: What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo causes patches of unpigmented (white) skin, anywhere on the body. Treatment is geared toward restoring color to the skin.

"Vitiligo is a skin condition of white patches resulting from loss of pigment. Any part of the body may be affected." American Academy of Dermatology.

Causes of Vitiligo

Causes of Vitiligo. If you have vitiligo, you do not have enough working melanocytes, so not enough melanin is produced in your skin. This causes white patches to develop on your skin or hair. The causes of non-segmental and segmental vitiligo may be slightly different. NHS-UK.

Causes of Vitiligo. Doctors and scientists have theories as to what causes vitiligo. However, none of these theories has been proven as a definite cause of vitiligo. Mayo Clinic.

(Case Report) A rare association of localized scleroderma (LS) type morphea, vitiligo, autoimmune hypothyroidism, pneumonitis, autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and central nervous system vasculitis. It is likely that localized scleroderma has an autoimmune origin and in this case becomes part of multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS), which consist of the presence of three or more well-defined autoimmune diseases in a single patient. PubMed, BMC Res Notes. (Also see Causes of Morphea, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Vasculitis, and Multiple Autoimmune Syndrome)

Diagnosis of Vitiligo

How is Vitiligo Diagnosed? NIH Publication No. 01-4909, [2001]. NIAMS.

Treatments for Vitiligo

Vitiligo - Treatment. There is no known cure for vitiligo, but treatment may improve your skin's appearance by restoring pigment (colour) to your patches. However, the effects of treatment are not usually permanent, and it cannot control the spread of the condition. NHS-UK.

Vitiligo - Treatment and Drugs. Medical treatments for vitiligo aim to even out skin tone, either by restoring color (pigment) or by destroying the remaining color. Treatment for vitiligo may take as long as six to 18 months, and you may have to try more than one treatment before you find the one that works best for you. Mayo Clinic.

Vitiligo Research

Partner bereavement and risk of chronic urticaria, alopecia areata and vitiligo: cohort studies in the United Kingdom and Denmark. In this study, we further investigated whether partner bereavement was associated with urticaria, alopecia areata, or vitiligo. PubMed, Br J Dermatol, 04/13/2020. (Also see Alopecia)

Vitiligo Support

Vitiligo Support International. A nonprofit comprehensive resource of vitiligo education, research and awareness for those whose lives have been affected by vitiligo. Phone 1-434-326-5380. VitiligoSupport.org.

Vitiligo Personal Stories

Audley: Mother of Linear Morphea (en coup de sabre) Patient After one diagnosis of Vitiligo, my motherly intuition told me that the diagnosis was not correct…

Dawn M: Linear/Systemic Scleroderma My family and I were informed by the doctors, that the localized/linear form of scleroderma that I was diagnosed with, would never progress into the potentially fatal, systemic form…

Emmi: Linear Scleroderma and Vitiligo My parents thought I was going to die, and doctors here in Finland did not really know what to do with me. There are not many scleroderma cases in Finland…

Heather: Vitiligo, Hypothyroidism, and now Linear Morphea I am not too concerned about the other two conditions since there really is nothing you can do about the vitiligo, and the thyroid is under control. The morphea is what is bugging me…

Jan L: Linear Scleroderma and Vitiligo I was not ever overly concerned with my looks, so I really did not pay that much attention to it…

Jenny M: Morphea Scleroderma I was told it was a fungus, then that it was clearly all in my head. I went to a dermatologist who told me I had vitiligo, and then that it was lichen sclerosis…

Leslie R: Scleroderma, Vitiligo, Lupus, Anemia, Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes He told me that I have scleroderma and explained what this disease is about. After suffering so long I finally got some answers…

Marina F: Sjogren's Syndrome and Vitiligo (Italy) For quite a few years now I have had problems such as eczema in my ear, vitiligo, nodules in the thyroid, dry eyes with a positive Schirmer's test, and vertigo…

(Italiano) Marina F: Sindrome di Sjogren, Vitiligo Ho 47 anni e da diversi anni soffro di vari problemi quali: eczema alle orecchie, vitiligine, noduli tiroidei, secchezza oculare con test di schirmer positivo, e vertigini…

Rosie: Limited Systemic Sclerosis (Australia) Some of my symptoms may not be due to limited scleroderma, however most of these symptoms have appeared since my diagnosis…

Tammy M: Linear Scleroderma and Vitiligo When I was first diagnosed there was no such thing as the Internet. I always felt that my family and I were the only ones in the world who knew what scleroderma was…

Wendy B: Mother of Daughter with Morphea and Vitiligo Does anyone else have Morphea and vitiligo? And what is the outcome?

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