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Last reviewed: 21 Apr 2025
Last updated: 08 Feb 2022

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • acral and periorificial depigmentation
  • perianal and genital depigmentation
  • recent cutaneous trauma
  • localised sunburn pain
  • enhancement and fluorescence with UV-A exposure
  • halo naevus
  • universal depigmentation

Risk factors

  • age <30 years
  • family history of vitiligo
  • autoimmune disease
  • chemical contact

Diagnostic investigations

Investigations to consider

  • Wood’s lamp examination
  • skin biopsy

Treatment algorithm

Contributors

Authors

John E. Harris, MD, PhD

Professor

Department of Dermatology

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Worcester

MA

Disclosures

JEH has acted as a consultant and/or investigator for: Pfizer, Genzyme/Sanofi, Aclaris Therapeutics Inc., Incyte, Rheos Medicines, Sun Pharmaceuticals, LEO Pharma, Villaris Therapeutics Inc., Dermavant, Temprian, AbbVie Inc., Janssen, TeVido, BioDevices, EMD Serono, Almirall, Boston Pharma, Sonoma Biotherapeutics Inc., Methuselah Health, Twi Biotech, Pandion, Cogen Therapeutics Inc., Admirx, BridgeBio, AnaptysBio, Avita, Frazier Management. He has equity in TeVido Biodevices, Rheos, and Villaris Therapeutics Inc., and is the Scientific Founder of Villaris Therapeutics Inc. JEH is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Mehdi Rashighi, MD

Assistant Professor

Department of Dermatology

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Worcester

MA

Disclosures

MR has received consulting fees and/or research grants from the following: Pfizer, AbbVie, Dermavant, LEO Pharma, and Almirall. MR is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Acknowledgements

Professor John E. Harris and Dr Mehdi Rashighi would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Bernhard Ortel, a previous contributor to this topic. BO declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Iltefat Hamzavi, MD

Senior Staff Physician

Multicultural Dermatology Center

Henry Ford Hospital

Detroit

MI

Disclosures

IH is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Piergiacomo Calzavara-Pinton, MD

Chair

Dermatology Department

University of Brescia

Brescia

Italy

Disclosures

PC-P is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Ortonne J-P. Vitiligo and other disorders of hypopigmentation. In: Bolognia JL, Jorrizzo JL, Rapini RP, eds. Dermatology. New York, NY: Mosby; 2008:913-38.

Taieb A, Picardo M. Clinical practice: vitiligo. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jan 8;360(2):160-9. Abstract

Taieb A, Alomar A, Böhm M, et al; Vitiligo European Task Force (VETF); European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV); Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS). Guidelines for the management of vitiligo: the European Dermatology Forum consensus. Br J Dermatol. 2013 Jan;168(1):5-19.Full text  Abstract

Whitton ME, Pinart M, Batchelor J, et al. Interventions for vitiligo. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Feb 24;(2):CD003263.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available here.

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