Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
Published on: March 1, 2024
Out-of-pocket costs and time spent on disease management by vitiligo patients: a cross-sectional questionnaire study
Christine Gasteiger1, Michael Hindelang1,2,3, Stefanie Ziehfreund1
1Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Munich, Germany.
Background And Objectives:
The financial and time-related burden of patients with vitiligo remains insufficiently studied. This study aimed to quantify out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) and time expenditure for vitiligo management and the associated sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors in German-speaking countries.
Patients And Methods:
Adults with self-reported vitiligo were recruited through patient organizations, social media, and dermatology centers and completed a questionnaire assessing OOPC, vitiligo-related time investment, disease severity (SA-VES), quality of life (DLQI), and digital media use. Group comparisons and multivariable linear regression models were used to identify factors influencing OOPC and time expenditure.
Results:
Of the 173 participants included, mean annual OOPC was €704 (SD €1,284). The most frequently reported expenses were sunscreen (89.6 %), camouflage products (54.3 %), moisturizers (49.7 %), and dietary supplements (48.0 %). Higher OOPC was associated with higher DLQI scores (p < 0.001) and digital media use for alternative treatments (p = 0.002). Mean daily time on disease-related care was 15.8 minutes (SD 20.9), independently associated with higher DLQI (p < 0.001), female sex (p < 0.001), higher education (p = 0.006), and vitiligo-related Instagram use (p = 0.007).
Conclusions:
Vitiligo imposes a substantial financial and time burden, both of which are closely associated with impaired quality of life, underscoring the importance of routine DLQI assessment.