{"id":627,"date":"2022-09-28T15:06:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-28T15:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/?p=627"},"modified":"2026-10-13T11:13:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T15:13:24","slug":"vitiligo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/medical-dermatology\/vitiligo\/","title":{"rendered":"Vitiligo"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"\/medical-dermatology\/\">\u2190 Back to Medical Dermatology<\/a><\/p>\n<p>New white patches can be noticeable and sometimes difficult to distinguish from other causes of lighter skin.<\/p>\n<p>Diagnosis starts with the pattern of pigment loss and, when useful, a Wood\u2019s lamp examination. Once vitiligo is confirmed, treatment can combine prescription creams such as <strong>Opzelura\u00ae (ruxolitinib)<\/strong> with narrowband UVB or excimer laser therapy based on age, location, extent, and disease activity.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Vitiligo?<\/h2>\n<p>Vitiligo develops when melanocytes\u2014the cells that produce melanin and give skin its color\u2014are damaged or lost through an autoimmune process.<\/p>\n<p>The result is usually smooth, clearly defined areas of lighter or completely white skin. Vitiligo can occur anywhere but commonly affects the:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Face and around the eyes or mouth<\/li>\n<li>Hands and fingers<\/li>\n<li>Arms and legs<\/li>\n<li>Underarms and groin<\/li>\n<li>Genital area<\/li>\n<li>Areas around joints<\/li>\n<li>Scalp or hair, sometimes causing white hairs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Vitiligo is <strong>not contagious<\/strong>, is not an infection and is not caused by poor hygiene.<\/p>\n<h2>Vitiligo in Brown and Darker Skin<\/h2>\n<p>Vitiligo occurs in every skin tone, but the contrast between affected and unaffected skin can be more noticeable in melanin-rich skin.<\/p>\n<p>For patients with Black, Hispanic or Latino, South Asian, Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and multiracial skin, pigment change itself may be one of the most visible parts of the condition.<\/p>\n<p>Our evaluation focuses on the pattern, activity of the disease, areas involved and the likelihood that a particular area will respond to treatment.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/skin-of-color-dermatology\/\"><strong>Explore our Skin of Color Dermatology services.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Is Every White Spot Vitiligo?<\/h2>\n<p>No. Several common conditions can cause lighter skin.<\/p>\n<p>In children especially, <a href=\"\/pediatrics\/pityriasis-alba\/\"><strong>pityriasis alba<\/strong><\/a> can cause lighter patches on the cheeks and face. Pityriasis alba is closely related to eczema and dry, sensitive skin and can be especially noticeable in darker skin tones. Other causes of light or white spots include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation<\/li>\n<li>Tinea versicolor and other fungal conditions<\/li>\n<li>Scarring<\/li>\n<li>Certain birthmarks<\/li>\n<li>Medication or treatment-related pigment changes<\/li>\n<li>Other pigment disorders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A dermatologist can often distinguish these conditions during an examination. A <strong>Wood&#8217;s lamp examination<\/strong> may also help determine whether pigment is partially reduced or more completely absent.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/medical-dermatology\/atopic-dermatitis-eczema\/\">Learn more about eczema and pigment changes.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How Is Vitiligo Treated?<\/h2>\n<p>Treatment is individualized based on the location and extent of pigment loss, whether new areas are appearing, patient age, previous treatments and personal goals.<\/p>\n<h3>Opzelura\u00ae for Vitiligo<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Opzelura\u00ae (ruxolitinib 1.5% cream)<\/strong> is a topical JAK inhibitor and the first FDA-approved medication specifically for repigmentation in nonsegmental vitiligo.<\/p>\n<p>It is FDA approved for adults and children <strong>12 years and older<\/strong> with nonsegmental vitiligo and is applied to affected areas when clinically appropriate.<\/p>\n<p>Repigmentation develops gradually over many months. The face and neck commonly respond better than the hands, fingertips and feet.<\/p>\n<h3>Other Treatments<\/h3>\n<p>Depending on age, location and skin involved, treatment may also include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Topical corticosteroids<\/li>\n<li>Tacrolimus or pimecrolimus<\/li>\n<li>Narrowband UVB phototherapy<\/li>\n<li>Excimer laser treatment<\/li>\n<li>Other anti-inflammatory approaches when appropriate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Whole-body narrowband UVB phototherapy<\/strong> is available at our <strong>Syosset, NY<\/strong> and <strong>Bellerose, NY<\/strong> offices. <a href=\"\/phototherapy\/narrowband-uvb-phototherapy\/\">Learn more about narrowband UVB phototherapy.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Excimer laser treatment<\/strong> is available at <strong>Garden City, NY<\/strong>, <strong>Syosset, NY<\/strong> and <strong>Bellerose, NY<\/strong>. <a href=\"\/phototherapy\/excimer-laser-treatment\/\">Learn more about excimer laser treatment.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Does Vitiligo Treatment Restore Normal Skin Color?<\/h2>\n<p>Repigmentation is possible for many patients, but results vary. The face and neck often respond particularly well, while the hands, fingertips and feet can be more resistant.<\/p>\n<p>Disease duration, location, hair color within the patch and whether vitiligo is still actively spreading can all affect response. We discuss realistic expectations before starting therapy and adjust the plan based on how your skin responds.<\/p>\n<h2>Vitiligo in Children<\/h2>\n<p>Vitiligo can begin during childhood. Because many other conditions can cause light patches in children, getting the diagnosis right is especially important.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pityriasis alba, eczema-related pigment change and other benign conditions can sometimes closely resemble early vitiligo.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Treatment is selected according to the child&#8217;s age, location of the patches, extent of disease and how active the condition appears.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/pediatrics\/\"><strong>Explore Pediatric Dermatology.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>When Should You Have a White Patch Checked?<\/h2>\n<p>Consider an evaluation if you notice a patch that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Has become distinctly white<\/li>\n<li>Is enlarging or appearing in additional locations<\/li>\n<li>Develops around the eyes, mouth, hands or genital area<\/li>\n<li>Causes the hair within the patch to turn white<\/li>\n<li>Looks different from previous eczema or pigment changes<\/li>\n<li>Has an uncertain diagnosis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Sometimes the most valuable first step is simply answering the question: <strong>Is this actually vitiligo?<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Modern Vitiligo Care<\/h2>\n<p>The goal is to confirm the diagnosis, determine whether the condition is active, and choose treatment based on age, body site, extent, previous treatment and your goals. We also set realistic expectations because repigmentation varies by location and often develops gradually over months.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related Care:<\/strong> <a href=\"\/skin-of-color-dermatology\/\">Skin of Color Dermatology<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/pediatrics\/\">Pediatric Dermatology<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/pediatrics\/pityriasis-alba\/\">Pityriasis Alba<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/medical-dermatology\/atopic-dermatitis-eczema\/\">Eczema<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/phototherapy\/narrowband-uvb-phototherapy\/\">Narrowband UVB Phototherapy<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"\/phototherapy\/excimer-laser-treatment\/\">Excimer Laser Treatment<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Related reading from Borealis<\/h3>\n<p>Explore these articles for more background and questions to discuss at your visit.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/blog\/vitiligo-treatment-has-changed-opzelura-phototherapy\/\">How vitiligo treatment has changed<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/blog\/introducing-narrow-band-uvb-phototherapy\/\">How narrowband UVB phototherapy works<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/l.klara.com\/b8jVLrQpaCXKPX7F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;width:240px;max-width:100%;min-height:52px;margin:18px auto;padding:14px 24px;background:#2386BB;color:#FFFFFF;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2;text-align:center\">Book Appointment<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-service-back-bottom=\"1\" style=\"text-align:left;margin-top:40px;padding-top:20px;border-top:1px solid #d7d7d7\"><a href=\"\/medical-dermatology\/\">\u2190 Back to Medical Dermatology<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vitiligo evaluation and treatment with topical medication, Excimer laser and narrowband UVB phototherapy based on location and extent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":4433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-medical-dermatology"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/shqUFp-vitiligo","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/borealisderm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Vitiligo-on-the-hands-1.webp?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=627"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3281,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627\/revisions\/3281"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}