About 1% of the worldwide population has vitiligo, a condition in which color vanishes from the skin in patches. At Thomas Dermatology, with two locations in Las Vegas and one in Henderson, Nevada, as well as offices in Bullhead City, Kingman, and Lake Havasu City, Arizona, the caring team of specialists offers vitiligo treatment tailored for your needs and wishes. Contact the office nearest you or arrange an appointment online today.
Vitiligo is a condition in which your skin pigment vanishes in blotches to leave white patches on your skin. The most common areas of depigmentation include the face, neck, and hands. Vitiligo can also affect the scalp, hair, mucous membranes, and other parts of your body.
The two forms of vitiligo are:
Nonsegmental vitiligo, the most common type, occurs fairly evenly on both the right and left side of the body. This form of vitiligo often starts in your hands or feet or around your eyes or mouth.
Nonsegmental vitiligo usually features rapid depigmentation followed by a period with no changes. But, the pigment loss usually starts again later. This cycle may repeat many times over the years. As time goes on, the areas of depigmentation usually grow bigger or grow to connect with other depigmented areas.
Segmental vitiligo appears in only one area, for example, one leg. It may also include hair depigmentation. Segmental vitiligo usually causes steady pigment loss for about a year but stops after that.
Segmental vitiligo usually starts earlier in life, typically before age 30. Nearly 60% of people with segmental vitiligo develop their first symptoms before age 20.
With both types of vitiligo, you may have localized pigment loss (very few spots in a few areas), generalized (multiple scattered areas throughout the body), or universal (very little natural pigment left).
The cause of vitiligo is unknown. Many experts believe it's an autoimmune disease in which your body mistakenly attacks and destroys skin pigment.
Up to 25% of people with vitiligo also have an autoimmune disorder, with common examples being rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Type 1 diabetes.
Thomas Dermatology offers a variety of innovative solutions to bring your natural skin pigment back. Topical ointments, like corticosteroids, can restore color over time. But, long-term use may carry some risks like skin thinning.
In-office light- or laser-based treatments can add pigment to your skin. You need treatment sessions 2-3 times a week for at least several weeks to see results. In some cases, a combination of treatments is the best approach for vitiligo.
Thomas Dermatology offers customized vitiligo care from the best skin specialists in Las Vegas. Call the nearest office or arrange an appointment online.