Vitiligo

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the album, see Vitiligo (album).
Not to be confused with Vertigo.

Vitiligo
phototherapy[2][3]
Frequency1% of people[4]

Vitiligo (

autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color.[1] The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but it may be related to immune system changes, genetic factors, stress, or sun exposure.[5][6] Treatment options include topical medications, light therapy, surgery and cosmetics.[6]

Signs and symptoms

The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of depigmented skin which tend to occur on the extremities.

stigmatized for their condition may experience depression and similar mood disorders.[12]

  • Vitiligo on lighter skin
    Vitiligo on lighter skin
  • Non-segmental vitiligo on dark skin
    Non-segmental vitiligo on dark skin
  • Non-segmental vitiligo of the eyelids
    Non-segmental vitiligo of the eyelids

Causes

Although multiple hypotheses have been suggested as potential triggers that cause vitiligo, studies strongly imply that changes in the immune system are responsible for the condition.[2][13] Vitiligo has been proposed to be a multifactorial disease with genetic susceptibility and environmental factors both thought to play a role.[2] It is hypothesized that damaging environmental factors can disrupt redox reactions necessary for protein folding, so skin cells may initiate the unfolded protein response which releases cytokines, thus mounting an immune response [14][15]

The National Institutes of Health states that some believe that sunburns can cause or exacerbate the condition, but this idea is not well-supported by good evidence.[16]

Immune

Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color; it is produced by skin cells called melanocytes.

Variations in genes that are part of the immune system or part of melanocytes have both been associated with vitiligo.[2] It is also thought to be caused by the immune system attacking and destroying the melanocytes of the skin.[17] A genome wide association study found approximately 36 independent susceptibility loci for generalized vitiligo.[18]

The TYR gene encodes the protein

autoantigen in generalized vitiligo.[2]

Autoimmune associations

Vitiligo is sometimes associated with

celiac disease.[2][19]

Among the inflammatory products of

rhesus monkey, and the bush baby. Addison's disease (typically an autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands) may also be seen in individuals with vitiligo.[21][22]

Diagnosis

UV photograph of a hand with vitiligo
UV photograph of a foot with vitiligo

An

fluoresce) when it is affected by certain bacteria, fungi, and changes to pigmentation of the skin.[24]

Classification

Classification attempts to quantify vitiligo have been analyzed as being somewhat inconsistent,[25] while recent consensus have agreed to a system of segmental vitiligo (SV) and non-segmental vitiligo (NSV). NSV is the most common type of vitiligo.[2]

Non-segmental

In non-segmental vitiligo (NSV), there is usually some form of symmetry in the location of the patches of depigmentation. New patches also appear over time and can be generalized over large portions of the body or localized to a particular area. Extreme cases of vitiligo, to the extent that little pigmented skin remains, are referred to as vitiligo universalis. NSV can come about at any age (unlike segmental vitiligo, which is far more prevalent in teenage years).[11]

Classes of non-segmental vitiligo include the following:

  • Generalized vitiligo: the most common pattern, wide and randomly distributed areas of depigmentation[26]
  • Universal vitiligo: depigmentation encompasses most of the body[26]
  • Focal vitiligo: one or a few scattered macules in one area, most common in children[26]
  • Acrofacial vitiligo: fingers and periorificial areas[26]
  • Mucosal vitiligo: depigmentation of only the mucous membranes[26]

Segmental

Segmental vitiligo (SV) differs in appearance, cause, and frequency of associated illnesses. Its treatment is different from that of NSV. It tends to affect areas of skin that are associated with

dorsal roots from the spinal cord and is most often unilateral.[2][27] It is much more stable/static in course and its association with autoimmune diseases appears to be weaker than that of generalized vitiligo.[27] SV does not improve with topical therapies or UV light; however, surgical treatments such as cellular grafting can be effective.[11]

Differential diagnosis

Chemical leukoderma is a similar condition due to multiple exposures to chemicals.[1] Vitiligo however is a risk factor.[1] Triggers may include inflammatory skin conditions, burns, intralesional steroid injections and abrasions.[1]

Other conditions with similar symptoms include the following:

Treatment

There is no cure for vitiligo but several treatment options are available.

ultraviolet light in combination with creams.[28] Due to the higher risks of skin cancer, the United Kingdom's National Health Service suggests phototherapy be used only if primary treatments are ineffective.[29] Lesions located on the hands, feet, and joints are the most difficult to repigment; those on the face are easiest to return to the natural skin color as the skin is thinner in nature.[2]

Immune mediators

Topical preparations of immune suppressing medications including

calcineurin inhibitors (such as tacrolimus or pimecrolimus) are considered to be first-line vitiligo treatments.[2]

In July 2022, ruxolitinib cream (sold under the brand name Opzelura) was approved for medical use in the United States for the treatment of vitiligo.[30]

Phototherapy

Phototherapy is considered a second-line treatment for vitiligo.[2] Exposing the skin to light from UVB lamps is the most common treatment for vitiligo. The treatments can be done at home with an UVB lamp or in a clinic. The exposure time is managed so that the skin does not suffer overexposure. Treatment can take a few weeks if the spots are on the neck and face and if they existed not more than 3 years. If the spots are on the hands and legs and have been there for more than 3 years, it can take a few months. Phototherapy sessions are done 2–3 times a week. Spots on a large area of the body may require full body treatment in a clinic or hospital. UVB broadband and narrowband lamps can be used,[31][32] but narrowband ultraviolet peaked around 311 nm is the choice. It has been constitutively reported that a combination of UVB phototherapy with other topical treatments improves re-pigmentation. However, some people with vitiligo may not see any changes to skin or re-pigmentation occurring. A serious potential side effect involves the risk of developing skin cancer, the same risk as an overexposure to natural sunlight.[citation needed]

Ultraviolet light (

PUVA) treatment involves taking a drug that increases the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet light, then exposing the skin to high doses of UVA light. Treatment is required twice a week for 6–12 months or longer. Because of the high doses of UVA and psoralen, PUVA may cause side effects such as sunburn-type reactions or skin freckling.[29]

Narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) phototherapy lacks the side-effects caused by psoralens and is as effective as PUVA.[2] As with PUVA, treatment is carried out twice weekly in a clinic or every day at home, and there is no need to use psoralen.[29] Longer treatment is often recommended, and at least 6 months may be required for effects to phototherapy.[33] NBUVB phototherapy appears better than PUVA therapy with the most effective response on the face and neck.[33]

With respect to improved repigmentation: topical calcineurin inhibitors plus phototherapy are better than phototherapy alone,[34] hydrocortisone plus laser light is better than laser light alone, ginkgo biloba is better than placebo, and oral mini-pulse of prednisolone (OMP) plus NB-UVB is better than OMP alone.[9]

Skin camouflage

In mild cases, vitiligo patches can be hidden with makeup or other cosmetic camouflage solutions. If the affected person is pale-skinned, the patches can be made less visible by avoiding tanning of unaffected skin.[26]

Depigmenting

In cases of extensive vitiligo the option to depigment the unaffected skin with topical drugs like

melanomas. Depigmentation takes about a year to complete.[29]

History

Descriptions of a disease believed to be vitiligo date back to a passage in the medical text

Leviticus[35] dating to 1280 BC[36] (or 1312 BC[37]) described a group of skin diseases associated with white spots, and a subsequent translation to Greek led to continued conflation of those with vitiligo with leprosy and spiritual uncleanliness.[35]

Medical sources in the ancient world such as Hippocrates often did not differentiate between vitiligo and leprosy, often grouping these diseases together. The name "vitiligo" was first used by the Roman physician Aulus Cornelius Celsus in his classic medical text De Medicina.[35]

The term vitiligo is believed to be derived from "vitium", meaning "defect" or "blemish".[35]

Winnie Harlow

Society and culture

The change in appearance caused by vitiligo can affect a person's emotional and psychological well-being and may create difficulty in becoming or remaining employed, particularly if vitiligo develops on visible areas of the body, such as the face, hands or arms. Participating in a vitiligo support group may improve social coping skills and emotional resilience.[38]

Notable cases include American pop singer Michael Jackson,[39] Canadian fashion model Winnie Harlow,[40] New Zealand singer-songwriter Kimbra,[41] American actor David Dastmalchian and Argentine musician Charly García. Professional wrestler Bryan Danielson[42] and French actor Michaël Youn are also affected,[43] as is former French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe,[44] and TV host, model and former Miss Colombia 2007, Taliana Vargas.[45][46]

The Adult Swim animated sitcom

The Boondocks satirizes the idea of vitiligo in Uncle Ruckus, one of the show's characters. Ruckus, who is black, frequently claims to be white, often stating that he has "Re-vitiligo, the opposite of what Michael Jackson had." He frequently uses this argument to maintain that he is actually Caucasian, leading him to commit delusional and racist antics in nearly every episode.[47]

Research

As of July 2013[update], afamelanotide is in phase II and III clinical trials for vitiligo and other skin diseases.[48]

A medication for rheumatoid arthritis, tofacitinib, has been tested for the treatment of vitiligo.[49]

In October 1992, a scientific report was published of successfully transplanting melanocytes to vitiligo-affected areas, effectively repigmenting the region.[50] The procedure involved taking a thin layer of pigmented skin from the person's gluteal region. Melanocytes were then separated out to a cellular suspension that was expanded in culture. The area to be treated was then denuded with a dermabrader and the melanocytes graft applied. Between 70 and 85 percent of people with vitiligo experienced nearly complete repigmentation of their skin. The longevity of the repigmentation differed from person to person.[51]

Current research suggests that the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway (JAK/STAT pathway) plays a crucial role in the loss of epidermal melanocytes. This pathway is activated by CXCR3+ CD8+ T cells, creating a positive-feedback loop with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) chemokines from keratinocytes, potentially contributing to vitiligo.[52] JAK inhibitors like ruxolitinib show promise in targeting the IFN-γ-chemokine signaling axis implicated in vitiligo pathogenesis, and improving nonsegmental vitiligo.[53][54][55]

References

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  7. ^ a b c d National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (March 2007). "What Is Vitiligo? Fast Facts: An Easy-to-Read Series of Publications for the Public Additional". Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
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External links

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