FAQ

FAQ

  • In order to conceal vitiligo, three primary techniques are available: specialized makeup to cover skin discoloration, everyday makeup to hide the whitening of eyebrows, surgery, if make-up fails to produce the desired results. To be continued  
  • Vitiligo has long been associated with disease-related discrimination, social stigma, self-isolation, lower self-esteem, embarrassment, anxiety, and depression.  These chronic stress experiences can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress (PTS) or post-traumatic stre...
  • An investigation from Egypt cites early systemic immunomodulation for recent localized vitiligo as a “successful approach” for achieving early control of disease activity. It helps to achieve early control of disease activity as well as minimize the incidence of recurrence. Ea...
  • According to a 10-year study, vitiligo patients have a statistically significant higher prevalence of other autoimmune conditions and dermatological disorders: hypothyroidism multiple sclerosis rheumatoid arthritis idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura seronegative arthri...
  • 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 — nevi with an depigmented circle around it, usually on the trunk — are about 10x more common in vitiligo patients than in the general population, especially in children.  Children with vitiligo-associated halo nevi are more likely to have the generalized vitiligo s...
  • 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...
  • In short, NO. Recent research shows no relationship between a degree of skin depigmentation and hearing loss severity in vitiligo patients. The results of this study showed that there is no significant relationship between gender, age, extent of skin involvement, duration of ...
  • 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...
  • Most of health insurance companies will initially reject claims for vitiligo doctor visits or phototherapy treatments but with enough efforts you can have a substantial part of related expenses covered by insurance.  Have your dermatologist write a letter to the insurance com...
  • 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...
  • Scientists know that some people are genetically predisposed to a specific group of autoimmune diseases – including generalized vitiligo – but do not know who and why.It doesn’t really help knowing you may be ‘at risk’ of developing a disease – because you never know if or whe...

FAQOther Questions

  • How to get insurance coverage for vitiligo treatments?

    Most of health insurance companies will initially reject claims for vitiligo doctor visits or phototherapy treatments but with enough efforts you can have a substantial part of ...

  • How To Cover Vitiligo With Makeup

    In order to conceal vitiligo, three primary techniques are available: specialized makeup to cover skin discoloration, everyday makeup to hide the whitening of eyebrows, sur...

  • What tests should be done?

    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 bas...