Is Vitiligo Progressive
What is vitiligo? Is vitiligo progressive? Vitiligo affects around 250,000 Australians and is a very visual condition that can have a server impact on self confidence if left untreated.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo affects around 250,000 Australians and is a very visual condition that can have a server impact on self confidence if left untreated.
Learn About Vitiligo.
Vitiligo is a relatively common autoimmune disease that affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide. It presents as depigmentation, or loss of colour, in some areas of the skin. The loss of melanocytes (cells that produce melanin, which produce colour) results in patches of white, depigmented skin surrounded by the usual skin colour.
Vitiligo affects all skin . However, it is more noticeable in darker skin types as the contrast between the white, depigmented areas and the darker surrounding skin is more obvious.
It is not a contagious condition, but can be associated with other autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease, diabetes and lupus. Patients with vitiligo should have regular checks with their doctor for these other autoimmune conditions.
The largest impacts of vitiligo, however, are the social challenges and impact on self esteem and mental health for patients which is often quite significant. Good emotional support and psychological guidance is of utmost importance while undergoing treatment.
The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but in many there may be a genetic component with other family members with the condition also.
Vitiligo can occur on any part of the body, but is common around the face, neck, arms and legs. It usually appears as small patches of depigmentation, will progress over a number of months to larger areas, and often stabilises.
The extent that your vitiligo will spread is not able to be predicted, and is different for everyone. It can continue through cycles of spreading and stabilisation over time. Injury to the skin, such as cuts and grazes, may lead to depigmentation in these areas also; therefore taking care to avoid injury is important.
The treatments used at various stages of vitiligo differ. For example, treatment with Laser & ReCell are only effective in patients with stable vitiligo who have failed first line treatments. However, combination topical and UVB phototherapy is considered first-line treatment and produces excellent repigmentation results for many of our patients at all stages of vitiligo. Read more about our treatments here.
Book Your Free Initial Review
Interested in a free initial review? Book an initial consult with one of our Dermal Assistants. We have telehealth and in-clinic appointments available just get in touch!