Vitiligo is a condition where pigment is lost in various areas of the skin leaving white, irregular patches. Michael Jackson was probably the most famous person who had vitiligo. Many of us learned about how having vitiligo can affect one’s life through stories about him. My article titled “Vitiligo, Michael Jackson and 65 Million Others Worldwide,” which I wrote a couple of years ago, discussed aspects of his struggle and that of newscaster Lee Thomas who applies make-up to even his skin tone in order to appear on TV each night.
Vitiligo is believed to be an autoimmune disease though the cause is unknown. Immune cells are thought to destroy the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes in the body. According to Pubmed Health, vitiligo has been associated with other immune diseases such as Addison's disease, hyperthyroidism and pernicious anemia. It is also theorized that vitiligo may be genetic as it can run in families.
Here in the United States, one to two million people have vitiligo while as many as 65 million suffer from it worldwide. About half of people develop it before the age of 20 and most will show signs before the age of 40. Vitiligo affects both sexes, and it affects all races but is more noticeable in those with dark complexions. It most commonly appears on sun-exposed areas such as the face, lips, arms, hands and feet but also can occur inside the mouth, the genitals and the eyes.
Treatments:
Topical steroid therapy is the safest and simplest treatment for vitiligo and is most appropriate for children. Different strength creams are prescribed and smoothed onto the white patches of skin for a minimum of three months in order to see results. Side effects of thinning skin or shrinkage will be monitored by the doctor.
Psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA) involves use of chemicals that will darken the lighter skin when exposed to UV light. A drug called psoralen is either applied topically or taken orally and then the skin is exposed to specially timed sessions of either sunlight or a UVA light lamp at a doctor’s office. Specific care must be taken to avoid overexposure to avoid sunburn, blistering and risk of skin cancer.
Depigmentation is used for people who have vitiligo on more than 50 percent of their bodies, to fade their skin so it matches the white areas. Hydroquinone is the drug used and is applied twice a day. The main side effect is redness and swelling and possibly itching and dryness. The results are typically permanent and cannot be reversed. The person will always be sensitive to light afterwards and must take precautions to avoid the sun and use sunscreen.
Surgical therapies include skin grafts, tattooing to match surrounding skin and autologous melanocyte transplantation.
Others therapies include the use of sunscreen and camouflage makeup to even out skin tones.
Emotional support is very important for those with vitiligo. Organizations below can provide resources for support groups, doctors and information/research about treatments.
American Vitiligo Research Foundation
http://www.avrf.org
National Vitiligo Foundation
http://nvfi.org
VitiligoSupport.com
http://www.vitiligosupport.org
sources:
Vitiligo. Pubmed Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine - The World's Largest Medical Library. Web. 6. Sept. 2011.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001834
“Vitiligo, Michael Jackson and 65 Million Others Worldwide”. EmpowHer. Web. 6. Sept. 2011.
https://www.empowher.com/vitiligo/content/vitiligo-michael-jackson-and-65-million-others-worldwide
Vitiligo. NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Web. 6. Sept. 2011.
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Vitiligo/default.asp
Vitiligo. Medline Plus. A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health. Web. 6. Sept. 2011.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitiligo.html#cat1
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles
Edited By Malu Banuelos