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Vitiligo

3 sourcesEvery line checked against its source

In short

Vitiligo causes white patches on your skin.

What it is1

  • Vitiligo is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color.

    National Institutes of Health

Worth knowing3

  • In vitiligo, the white patches usually appear symmetrically on both sides of your body, such as on both hands or both knees.

    National Institutes of Health
  • Anyone can get vitiligo, and it can develop at any age.

    National Institutes of Health
  • The white patches are more common where your skin is exposed to the sun.

    MedlinePlus

What helps3

  • Although there is no cure for vitiligo, treatments can be very effective at stopping the progression and reversing its effects, which may help skin tone appear more even.

    National Institutes of Health
  • Protect your skin from the sun: use sunscreen and wear clothes to help protect it from sunburn and long-term damage.

    National Institutes of Health
  • Cosmetics, such as self-tanning lotions or dyes, can cover depigmented patches of skin.

    National Institutes of Health

See a provider if2

  • Look for a doctor who has experience treating vitiligo.

    National Institutes of Health
  • Living with vitiligo can be hard, and it can affect how you feel about your appearance. Advice and help from a mental health professional can help you cope.

    National Institutes of Health

Sources

These pages describe what the sources say. They cannot say what is going on with your skin.

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