Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a disease that affects from 1 to 3 per cent of the population. It is characterized by cutaneous white macules that often develop in cosmetically important areas such as the face, the dorsal hands, and the arms. It may be accompanied by ocular abnormalities and a number of associated disorders such as thyroid disease, diabetes, pernicious anemia, and alopecia areata. There is increasing evidence that vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. Although there is as yet no definitive cure, many patients have obtained respectable repigmentation by the use of topical or oral psoralen plus ultraviolet light. When large areas of skin are involved or when the patient is unresponsive to therapy, serious consideration should be given to depigmentation with monobenzone (Benoquin).