Vitiligo

What is vitiligo?

VVitiligo is a skin condition that causes blotchy, light-colored skin. The color of your skin is directed by the pigment melanin. You may develop vitiligo if your pigment cells die, which can occur with any skin color but may be more noticeable on darker skin.

Researchers are still investigating the reason why your pigment cells die but theorize it may be caused by an immune disorder, an injury to your skin, or your genetics.

There is no cure for vitiligo, but at Bay Ridge Dermatology, it can be treated.

How do I know if I have vitiligo?

If you are noticing patches of lighter skin on your body, the skin care experts at Bay Ridge Dermatology can conduct a thorough evaluation to help formulate a diagnosis. A skin biopsy may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Common symptoms of vitiligo include:

• Loss of color on your skin anywhere on your body including your lips
• Patchy whitening of hair on your scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes

Color loss may appear all over your body, on one side, or a few parts. Vitiligo can occur at any age and the degree of color loss can range from minimal to severe.

How is vitiligo treated?

There are many treatment options to help restore color to your skin and the team at Bay Ridge Dermatology will go over your options to help determine the best treatment for you.

Treatments include:

• Topical medication
• Oral medication
• XTRAC® laser

XTRAC® laser is an advanced medical treatment the helps restore color to the skin. It can be used anywhere on the body and is especially effective on the face. To maintain your color, you may need to come in for regular treatments.

To discuss your treatment options for vitiligo, call us today or request an appointment online.