"Vitiligo is becoming more and more common in our offices, given the recent increase in media exposure, [because] many people didn't know exactly what they had,” New York City-based and board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali told
There are over 30 genes that can increase your risk of developing vitiligo. Stress: The amount of pigment your melanocyte cells produce may change if you experience frequent emotional stress or physical stress on your body, especially after an injury.
Prevalence rates vary geographically and are often higher in Africa and India. Vitiligo in dark‐skinned populations and/or in regions where social and cultural stigmas are common likely leads to more patients seeking healthcare, resulting in a higher reported prevalence.
However, for many people with vitiligo, the white patches begin to appear before age 20, and can start in early childhood. Vitiligo seems to be more common in people who have a family history of the disorder or who have certain autoimmune diseases, including: Addison's disease. Pernicious anemia.
Vitiligo doesn't discriminate, and it is found relatively equally in all ethnicities and sexes.
Potential triggers include sunburn, exposure to certain chemicals, and trauma or injury to the skin, according to the article in F1000 Research. These triggers can also prompt vitiligo to spread in people who already have the condition.
The fact that vitiligo is more common in family members of people with vitiligo means that genetics play a role in the disease. That's not too surprising, since genetics plays a role in most diseases, as well as normal traits (like hair color, height, etc). Dr.
Inheritance. Vitiligo sometimes runs in families, but the inheritance pattern is complex because multiple causative factors are involved. About one-fifth of people with this condition have at least one close relative who is also affected.
Vitiligo usually begins with a few small lighter patches that develop on the skin. These patches may stay the same size for years or grow larger. New patches can appear on the skin.
This chronic skin disease does not affect life expectancy, but it can have a significant psychological impact.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, up to half of people who develop vitiligo do so before the age of 20. But despite its high incidence in childhood and early adulthood, vitiligo can happen at any age, says the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
Vitiligo can appear at any age, but it has been most frequently observed in the first two decades [2]. In particular, it tends to appear before the age of 10 in about 25% of the patients [3, 4].
Vitiligo can be triggered by stress to the melanin pigment-producing cells of the skin, the melanocytes. The triggers, which range from sunburn to mechanical trauma and chemical exposures, ultimately cause an autoimmune response that targets melanocytes, driving progressive skin depigmentation.
There are no ways to prevent vitiligo from developing. However, certain treatments can help prevent existing areas of depigmentation from growing.
Certain components of hair dye, bleaching agents, and skin-care products can set off a vitiligo flare. Marmon advises choosing products labeled hypoallergenic that are free of harsh chemicals, fragrances, and irritants.
Vitiligo signs include: Patchy loss of skin color, which usually first appears on the hands, face, and areas around body openings and the genitals.
Localized: Skin patches are found on limited areas of the body. Generalized: Skin patches are scattered around the body. Mucosal : Vitiligo affects the mucous membranes found in the mouth and/or genitals. Focal: Skin patches remain in a small area of the body without spreading in the first two years.
Pityriasis versicolor can sometimes be confused with vitiligo, as they both cause the skin to become discoloured in patches. But there are ways to tell the difference: vitiligo often develops symmetrically (on both sides of your body at the same time), while pityriasis versicolor may not.
Approximately 30% of people with the condition will have a family history of vitiligo. Therefore, children will not get vitiligo strictly on the grounds that a parent has it. However, they do stand a higher chance of developing the condition.
Vitiligo is associated with other autoimmune diseases: Addison disease (disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones) Thyroid disease. Pernicious anemia (decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B12)
Approximately 25 percent to 50 percent of those with vitiligo also have a relative with vitiligo, while 6 percent may have a sibling who has it as well. Some MyVitiligoTeam members have family members with the skin condition.
In both studies, the most common co-occurring condition in people with vitiligo was hypothyroidism. Other common conditions in one or both studies included alopecia areata, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Globally, vitiligo occurs in 1% or so of the population. Vitiligo affects people of all races, including Caucasians. However, the condition is more visible in people with darker skin. Vitiligo can affect people of all age groups, although it is rare in the very young or very old.
Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes a person to develop patches of light or white skin. Although vitiligo can be more noticeable on darker skin, it affects all races similarly.