Vitiligo Glossary of Terms

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Albinism: A group of genetic disorders in which there is partial or total lack of the pigm...

Autoimmune: Pertaining to autoimmunity, a misdirected immune response that occurs when the...

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

Contrast: Short for "contrast media." Contrast media are X-ray dyes used to provide contra...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

Depigmentation: Loss of color (pigment) from the skin, mucous membranes, hair, or retina o...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Etiology: The study of causes, as in the causes of a disease. The form aetiology is genera...

Excimer laser: A laser that emits very concentrated light in the ultraviolet (UV) region o...

Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform...

Fungus: A single-celled or multicellular organism. Fungi can be true pathogens (such as hi...

Genes: The basic biological units of heredity. Segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nee...

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

Genitalia: The male or female reproductive organs. The genitalia include internal and exte...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Laser: A powerful beam of light that is used in some types of surgery to cut or destroy ti...

Lightening: Not to be confused with a discharge of atmospheric electricity, lightening re...

Limb: An arm or a leg.

Melanin: The pigment that gives human skin, hair, and eyes their color. Dark-skinned peopl...

Ointment: An oil-based preparation that is applied to the skin. Whereas an ointment has an...

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

Pigment: A substance that gives color to tissue. Pigments are responsible for the colors o...

Pigmentation: The coloring of the skin, hair, mucous membranes, and retina of the eye. Pig...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

Recipient: In medicine, someone who is given something, such as a blood transfusion or an ...

Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

Skin biopsy: Removal of a piece of skin for the purpose of diagnostic examination. Skin bi...

Sunburn: Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin that develops in response to exposure to u...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Systemic: Affecting the entire body. A systemic disease such as diabetes can affect the wh...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Topical: Pertaining to a particular surface area. For example, a topical agent is applied ...

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Vital: Necessary to maintain life. For example, breathing is a vital function.

Vitiligo: A condition in which the skin turns white due to the loss of pigment from the me...