dermatologic disorders
Vitiligo
Introduction
Vitiligo is a loss of skin melanocytes that causes areas of skin depigmentation of varying sizes. Cause is unknown, but genetic and autoimmune factors are likely. Diagnosis is usually clear based on skin examination. Common treatments include topical corticosteroids (often combined withcalcipotriene), calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimusandpimecrolimus), and narrowband ultraviolet (UV) B or psoralen plus UVA. Widespread disease may be responsive to narrowband UVB treatments. For severe widespread pigment loss, residual patches of normal skin may be permanently depigmented (bleached) with monobenzyl ether ofhydroquinone. Surgical skin-grafting may also be considered. (See also Overview of Pigmentation Disorders .) Vitiligo affects up to 2% of the population. 