Does anyone here have Vitiligo?

[Mark Wilson]

So, I've just started developing signs of Vitiligo.

It's when patches of your skin are missing it's pigments.

Such as


Mine's not that extreme. It's REALLY tiny.

Just wondering if anyone who has it has done anything to cure it? or minimize it?

[Hawaii Islander]

Michael Jackson had a severe case of that. His dermatologist described several treatments that were used to even out the skin color and tone. I don't recall the exact nature of each treatment though. There's no cure that I'm aware of.

Edit: MJ also had Lupus. Lupus and Vitiligo are both autoimmune disorders.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Are You sure, like doctor diagnosed sure?

Our skin is our largest living organ, and sometimes parts of it go under normal changes whether we like it or not.

You live in Canada, so the environment is quite like it's in here in Finland. Ie. it's cold, windy, wet and generally miserable . Throughout the year.

Kidding aside, have You ever had a frost bite on the areas You have the pigmentation changes? That can lead to visible changes when You get older. Some of the layers can lose their regeneration abilities or they're reduced, and that shows as patches. Especially when the summer turns to fall, and the amount of sunlight diminishes.

Women do tend to mask them, so You mostly see them on males, well "normal " ones anyway, but often it's more severe with women for some reason. Perhaps the greater exposure to UV plays a part in that.

If You had the condition diagnosed, then I'm just rambling.

Regards
Sam

[Hawaii Islander]

Some fungal infections on the shoulders back and chest can appear as slightly darker spots during infection or lighter spots once the infection clears. It may be worth checking with a dermatologist.

[CrispyDelicious]

Not to freak you out Mark, but isn't Vitiligo progressive? From what I understand it just keeps going.

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by CrispyDelicious

Not to freak you out Mark, but isn't Vitiligo progressive? From what I understand it just keeps going.

If it is autoimmune in origin, then yes it will get progressively worse. Start wearing makeup. From a quick google search there are some therapies but it depends on the type you have and how active it is.

[Mark Wilson]

I could be wrong about Vitiligo then.
I haven't been diagnosed, but after a lot of research this is what i've found.

I'm gonna get it checked out. I'm not too concerned about it, because it doesn't hurt, itch or anything.

[aikakone]

Some information for the interested.

From the Merck manual: http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec18/ch208/ch208c.html

From the National Institutes of Health/Medline Plus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitiligo.html

[L-A]

An old scar?

[Eric Perry]

I have it. Diagnosed around age 17 or so. It got progressively worse, to a point. Was stagnant for a while, then improved. just recently it's gotten a little worse again. I have some spots on my right hand, inner forearms, and lower legs. It sucks, but it is what it is. For me, it's not too bad because I'm fairly light skinned. Looks much worse when I tan (the non-pigmented spots do not tan at all while all "normal" skin darkens with sun exposure). Wear sunblock. So it's not as noticeable, and also to protect your skin in the areas where there is no longer any built-in protection from the sun. Research states that stress can worsen it. There are some treatments. None are quick or easy and none work 100% of the time. If it is vitiligo, you're pretty much stuck with it.

For me, it's just physical proof of my colorful presonality.

[twdavis13]

My principal has it.