Vitiligo Facts

Vitiligo
A skin disease causing the loss of pigmentation in which patients develop white spots in the skin that vary in size and location. The spots occur when pigment cells, or melanocytes, are destroyed and the pigment melanin can no longer be produced.

How many people have vitiligo?
Approximately 1% - 2% of the American population has vitiligo. This percentage is between 2 - 4 million Americans.

What is the economic impact?
The mainstay of treatment for vitiligo patients, PUVA, can cost close to $6000 or more per patient. This figure is based on 1 - 1 1/2 years of treatment or 120 treatments. The cost includes medication, office visits, light therapy, lab tests and eye exams which are necessary because of the possible damage to the eyes as a result of the light therapy. This figure does not include the patient's loss of work time, or travel expense to obtain treatments. Most insurance companies do not cover the cost of treatment, therefore, many patients are unable to receive proper care for the disease. As a result some patients have lost their jobs or are unable to obtain work due to their cosmetic disfigurement, especially if the work involves interaction with the general public.

What percentage are women?
Vitiligo affects men and women of all race and age equally.

Lab Bench to Bedside - Progress in research
There is no cure for vitiligo but treatment forms have certainly improved over the years. The treatments are unsatisfactory and many patients tend to lose the pigment they were successful in gaining through PUVA therapy.

Prevention
There is no known prevention for vitiligo, otherwise there would be no such disease. Considerable research is needed in this field to help find a cure for vitiligo sufferers.

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