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Prof. Amir Horev

Dermatology and Venereology Specialist and Pediatric Dermatologist

Vitiligo is a skin disease that causes the loss of pigment (color) in the skin, leaving light patches and spots.

The patches can be found anywhere on the skin, including the hair, face, limbs and torso.

Some background

1-2 out of 100 people will develop vitiligo in their lifetime, half of them before the age of 20.

Most people with vitiligo are healthy with no underlying medical conditions.

The disease is caused by an autoimmune reaction of T cells in the body against melanocytes (the cells that produce the pigment in the skin - i.e. our skin color). The autoimmune activity causes inflammation and a temporary paralysis of the production of melanin pigment, resulting in white patches on the skin.

Vitiligo has a genetic/familial link, and families with autoimmune diseases are at higher risk of developing vitiligo.

Laboratory tests

To rule out other autoimmune diseases that may accompany vitiligo, and at the discretion of the treating physician, certain blood tests may sometimes be performed.

​Treatment

  • Although there is no treatment that completely cures vitiligo, there are effective treatments to reduce inflammatory activity in the affected skin areas and improve appearance, for example:
  • Steroids - penetrate the upper layer of the skin where the melanocyte cells are located and reduce inflammation around them, thereby allowing repigmentation (re-pigmentation) in the treated area.
  • Creams containing vitamin D - help normalize the distribution of pigment in the skin.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams - are effective mainly in the face, neck and other delicate skin areas.
  • Phototherapy treatments - This involves a specific wavelength of 311 nanometers (NB-UVB) that penetrates exactly to the depth required in the skin to reduce the inflammatory process and cause the re-creation of pigment. The treatment is usually performed in a special chamber located in the hospital or health insurance fund.
  • Various anti-inflammatory treatments, including those from the JAK inhibitor family.
  • There is considerable importance in the daily and frequent use of sunscreens, because in areas of vitiligo, the skin's natural protection (pigment) against the dangerous effects of the sun is practically absent.

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Prof. Horev - Vitiligo - Doctors Website