Vitiligo is a relatively common disorder causing loss of pigment in the skin. Millions of people worldwide have vitiligo and it affects males and females equally. The etiology of vitiligo is unknown and there is no cure, however it is thought to be an autoimmune condition. Twenty-five to fifty percent of people with vitiligo have a family member affected by the disorder. Apart from the loss of pigments in the skin, there are no other symptoms associated with vitiligo. Vitiligo is not contagious.

Treatment for vitiligo is often multi-factorial. Topical corticosteroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors are first line therapies for localized disease. Depending on how rapidly the vitiligo is spreading, oral corticosteroids may be added. We also recommend limited light therapy through a window to affected areas daily. Additional light therapies and autologous grafting therapies may be added for persistent disease. Research is still being done on new ways to treat Vitiligo and even possibly restore some color to the skin.