FAQ

FAQ

  • In 2016, the United Nations marked World Vitiligo Day in its International Calendar of Disability Events. However, it was removed in 2019 when the calendar was streamlined to 'Major Events'. Understandably, with the subsequent COVID-19 lockdowns and ongoing global unrest, our ...
  • While there isn't specific research directly linking military service to the onset of vitiligo, it's critical to comprehend that vitiligo is a multifaceted disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental elements, and accompanied by many other diseases. Vitiligo arises ...
  • Living with vitiligo often involves dealing with more than just skin changes. Many people with vitiligo face discrimination, social stigma, and isolation, which can lead to lower self-esteem, embarrassment, anxiety, and depression. This chronic stress can be so severe that it...
  • Localized vitiligo, where the white patches are limited to one or a few areas of the body, can be managed with a few treatment approaches. The best therapy usually depends on the extent of the vitiligo, its location, the patient's age, and their personal preference. Here are a...
  • Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease and is frequently associated with other autoimmune diseases, acccording to a 10-year study. The exact diseases that accompany vitiligo can vary, but the most common ones include: hypothyroidism multiple sclerosis rheumatoid arthritis idi...
  • In Brief Vitamin D plays a central role in the prevention of different inflammatory and chronic diseases. Consuming 1,000–4,000 IU (25–100 mcg) of vitamin D3 daily should be ideal for most people to sustain good health. It is generally recommended that people with vitiligo ke...
  • Halo nevi (also known as Sutton's nevi) are characterized by a mole that's surrounded by a ring of depigmented or lighter skin. While both halo nevi and vitiligo involve the destruction of melanocytes (the cells that produce skin pigment), they are separate conditions. Howeve...
  • Corticosteroid drugs (like hydrocortisone, and others) are often used for treating vitiligo. By mimicing the effects of hormones your body produces naturally in your adrenal glands, corticosteroids can suppress the immune system and reduce the signs and symptoms of many condit...
  • People have used herbs and natural remedies to treat skin conditions for centuries. Vitiligo is an auto-immune condition that causes white patches of skin to develop and expand, often without clear cause. There is no cure for vitiligo, though medical treatments and compliment...
  • 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. Viti...
  • Vitiligo, primarily known for skin discoloration, can also affect melanocytes in the inner ear, potentially influencing hearing. Hearing loss isn't unique to vitiligo patients and impacts millions across age groups, ethnicities, and health conditions. As we age, high-frequency...
  • There are so many different ways that people try and spell or even pronounce Vitiligo.  Here are some common mis-spellings: bitiligo, vitigo, vitaligo, vitilago, vitiglio, vitago, veteligo.  Just to set the record straight its VITILIGO, prononunced as vit-ill-EYE-go. In cas...
  • Vitiligo can be puzzling for a child because a person who has it isn't "ill" in a common sense.  To choose the right words to explain vitiligo diagnosis to a child, first consider their age and modify the conversation to make it age-appropriate. The following tips can help yo...
  • Treatment results will vary by person and type of vitiligo. The rule of thumb is that you will need to allow at least 3 to 6 months before you begin to see results from any treatment, and you may expect satisfactory results within 12-18 months. Newly appeared spots can be eff...
  • Pyrostegia venusta is a neotropical evergreen vine widely spread in Brazil throughout fields, at the coast, edge of the woods and along roadsides (see photo below). Popularly known as “flame vine” or “cipó-de-são-joão”, this species is cultivated due to its outstanding ornamen...
  • Traditional medicines may be helpful in chronic, metabolic, and stress-related conditions early in the disease manifestation, before extensive tissue and organ damage has occurred. Vitiligo is not high on this list.  Only for a very few traditional treatments is there any evi...
  • Vitiligo insurance coverage is a pretty convoluted topic. To make things as clear and straightforward as possible, we've turned the key facts into this easy-to-digest Q&A format, and provide you with the link to the extended guide for more details.  Q: Why has insurance c...
  • Extracts of the tropical fern Polypodium leucotomos appear to have beneficial properties for the vitiligious skin. Polypodium leucotomos (also classified as Polypodium aureum) and Polypodium decumanum (also classified as Phlebodium decumanum) are indigenous to the Honduran rai...
  • It’s important to remember there are multiple factors involved in vitiligo onset, including genetic predisposition, living and working environments, and exposure to certain chemicals. Some products may be harmful for some patients but not others. There are a number of commerc...
  • In a recent study researchers assessed effect and safety of different laser and phototherapy treatments, such as excimer laser/light, narrowband UVB, UVA and PUVA. No significant difference was found between excimer laser and its cheaper alternative NB-UVB in the treatment of...
  • If you are starting a new job and you are concerned about stares and questions about your skin, try a proactive approach. When the time is right and you are feeling comfortable, broach the topic in an open way. Chances are, your new co-workers will understand you without extra...
  • Ginkgo Biloba seems to be a simple, safe, inexpensive and fairly effective therapy for vitiligo. It is mostly effective in halting the progression of the disease. It can also speed up repigmentation process in some patients.  Ginkgo Biloba leaf extract is known to have anti-i...
  • Many celebrities have dealt with vitiligo while remaining in the public eye, maintaining a positive outlook, and having a successful career. Here are a few courageous famous people who face vitiligo in the public eye.
  • Contrary to popular belief, vitiligo is not a cosmetic disorder but a systemic disease affecting the largest body organ and other vital systems, with multiple comorbidities. For more than 1.6 million people in the US affected by vitiligo, it is far more than just a skin condi...
  • It's very unlikely. We have specifically looked into claims that gluten-free diet may ease symptoms of vitiligo, or completely reverse it, and found no firm scientific evidence to support this theory. Gluten is a storage protein in wheat, rye, and barley that puffs up when ba...
  • Vitiligo can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, or race. Vitiligo prevalence is between 0.76% and 1.11% of the U.S. population, including around 40% of those with the condition being undiagnosed. Scientists know that some people are genetically predisposed to a specific...
  • A well-trained dermatologist should be able to diagnose vitiligo and distinguish it from contact leukoderma or more than twenty other conditions with similar skin appearance based on physical examination, assisted with a Wood’s lamp. Occasionally, your doctor may recommend so...
  • In short, no.  Some people find that certain foods may worsen their vitiligo symptoms or that others may improve their skin condition. We found no scientific evidence that a specific diet can prevent, ease symptoms, treat or cure vitiligo.  It does not mean there is no possi...
  • Vitiligo activity may vary considerably from person to person. The natural course of vitiligo is truly unpredictable but usually progressive. The most recent VALIANT study on vitiligo (2022) provides the following breakdown of the disease progression:  No progression after...
  • Vitiligo is NOT contagious. It cannot be passed on or caught from touching someone with vitiligo, shaking hands, swimming in the same pool, sharing towels, sitting next to someone in sauna, using the same sporting equipment, or eating food prepared by a person who has vitiligo.
  •  Vitiligo (pronounced vit-ill-EYE-go) is a generally unpredictable skin disease that causes a gradual loss of skin color and overlying hair on different parts of the body. Contrary to popular belief, vitiligo is not a cosmetic disorder but a systemic disease affecting the lar...
  • There is no cure for vitiligo, but there are a number of effective treatment options that can be discussed with your GP or dermatologist. The aim of treatment is to stop new patches forming and bring the color back. In approximately 70% of all cases vitiligo condition can be s...
  • It is true that vitiligo progression could be stopped in 4 out of 5 cases by the use of potent systemic corticosteroids - that is, oral medications. However, systemic corticosteroids might have possible side effects, hence, the decision of their use for limiting vitiligo prog...
  • Children born to parents who both have the disorder are more likely to develop vitiligo. However, most children will not get vitiligo even if one parent has it. In children with focal and segmental vitiligo, there is often no family history of vitiligo or other autoimmune diso...
  • Surprisingly, the causes of vitiligo are yet to be precisely established. Researchers know the cause is pre-wired in your genes, just waiting for a bad luck moment. In about half of all cases this can be a specific trigger or an unfortunate combination of benign conditions. In...

FAQOther Questions

  • What is the best therapy for localized vitiligo?

    Localized vitiligo, where the white patches are limited to one or a few areas of the body, can be managed with a few treatment approaches. The best therapy usually depends on th...

  • Who is prone to vitiligo?

    Vitiligo can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, or race. Vitiligo prevalence is between 0.76% and 1.11% of the U.S. population, including around 40% of those with the con...

  • How long does it take to treat vitiligo?

    Treatment results will vary by person and type of vitiligo. The rule of thumb is that you will need to allow at least 3 to 6 months before you begin to see results from any trea...