Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder causing patches of skin to lose their pigment due to melanocytes (pigment-making cells) being attacked and destroyed.
What is it?
Vitiligo is a chronic condition that results in areas of skin changing to a pale white color due to a lack of melanin, the skin's pigment. In simpler terms, the skin loses its natural color, forming white areas known as macules or patches. Macules are smaller than five millimeters, while patches are five millimeters or larger. Some individuals with vitiligo experience their hair turning white in the affected areas. The condition primarily starts affecting people in their 20s, usually manifesting on the face, arms, hands, or feet. The condition tends to progress over time, with more areas of the skin losing pigmentation. Vitiligo can affect individuals of all skin colors. However, lighter patches of skin are more noticeable on darker or tanned skin tones.
How is it treated?
Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center diagnoses and treats vitiligo with appropriate and effective treatment options. We’re proud to share that we’ve successfully restored skin color for many patients.
During your appointment, our board-certified dermatologists will devise a strategy tailored to your age, overall health, your vitiligo type, its location on your body and the progression of your condition. We can administer medications and medicated skincare creams, such as corticosteroids, and provide light therapy to enhance skin color conditions. We also offer pigmentation therapy, laser therapy, skin graft surgery, cell transplant surgery and camouflage therapy.
It's crucial to understand that effective vitiligo treatment takes time, and some individuals may require more intensive treatment to see progress. Schedule a consultation at one of our offices in Adrian, Battle Creek, Dowagiac, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Sturgis, Michigan, or Angola, Elkhart, Goshen and Plymouth, Indiana, to begin your journey toward restoring your skin color.
No matter where we treat you, you can rest assured that we’ll help you with a treatment plan to give you back the skin you deserve.