Diseases of Pigment

The photo depicts a severe case of vitiligo on the back. Vitiligo tends to spread and affect larger areas of the skin. There are two main ways to deal with vitiligo. The first method involves covering up the affected skin with heavy duty make-up. Sunscreens also help protect the skin and may minimize the contrast between the dark and light areas of skin. Additional strategies may be employed to help treat existing vitiligo. Topical corticosteroids and sunlight may stimulate the skin to produce pigment, but the intervention works best early after the onset of the disease. Psoralens and ultraviolet A light (PUVA) and narrowband UUB are two additional treatments used for vitiligo.