Vitiligo is an auto-immune condition that results in flat areas of pigment loss. Fingers are a common location. In fair skin patients, vitiligo can be subtle. The total loss of pigment cells make these patients high risk for sunburn within the affected areas. This image displays one spot of lightened pigment due to vitiligo. This image displays areas of complete absence of skin pigment typical of vitiligo. This image displays a patient with vitiligo that affects his beard area and the area around his lips. This image displays lightening of the skin due to vitiligo, with pigment beginning to return around each hair follicle. This image displays the tops of feet affected with vitiligo. While the pigment loss from vitiligo is often subtle in lighter-skinned people, the loss of pigment from hairs in the eyelash area here accentuates the color loss. Light patches of vitiligo are subtle on the arms of a fair-skinned person. The fingers are a frequent skin location for patches of vitiligo. The pigment loss from vitiligo is often subtle in lighter-skinned individuals.
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Picture of Vitiligo: Vitiligo is an auto-immune condition that results in flat areas of pigment loss. Fingers are a common location. Divider line
Vitiligo is an auto-immune condition that results in flat areas of pigment loss. Fingers are a common location.
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Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe
Your doctor may try any of the following:
  • Topical steroid creams or ointments to help restore skin color. These should be used with caution because of the risk of tissue damage (atrophy) with prolonged use, particularly on the face and skin fold areas.
  • Topical non-steroid medications, such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, which deactivate immune cells, may be of benefit. These medications, however, can increase your risk of developing cancer (malignancy).
  • Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy for lesions that do not affect the joints. 
  • For very extensive lesions in darker-skinned individuals, topical chemicals remove color (depigment) the normal skin.
  • Superficial skin grafts, especially in hard-to-treat (recalcitrant) locations, such as over joints.
Last Modified: 29 Jan 2008

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