Vitiligo Specialist in chennai
                     Certain diseases do not take life but ruin it. Vitiligo is one such disease with 
considerable psychosocial distress especially more noticeable in darker skinned 
individual. It is a common scenario where a patient enters a Dermatologist clinic with a 
panic,Doc, I have a white patch,do something to take it off... Vitiligo is not a dreadful 
disease but the mere diagnosis creates a havoc to the family . Vitiligo is an ancient 
disease with an element of stigma deep rooted to destroy the prospects of marriage 
and marital discord. Childhood vitiligo markedly affects the self esteem of the child with 
longlasting effect on the overall growth and personality development 
Vitiligo is a disease of the pigmentary system affecting 0.5-1% of the population. The 
exact cause is compex ,often an interplay of genetic, environmental and subtle 
alterations in the immune system that destroys the pigment cells (melanocytes)is 
noted. Although, Most vitiligo patients donot have a family history, 30% of the have an 
affected family member. Child with an affected parent has around 5-7% of acquiring the 
disease.White patches appearing in the skin may remain confined to the site or may 
spread rapidly to other areas . The course of the disease is unpredictable and the 
severity varies from person to person. It is not a serious disease and doesnot spread 
from person to person ( non contagious). 
Vitiligo is now curable to a larger extent with growing list of novel drugs. The choice of 
treatment depends on the extent, size and site of the patches .Sun protection is 
important as the white patches donot tan but burn. Steroids, immunomodulatory 
creams and phototherapy helps patients to regain the color. Newer surgical techniques 
like skin grafting and cell transplantation has given excellent treatment outcome in 
resistant stable cases with no tendency to spread. The tiny bits of normal skin or the 
seperated cell suspension is transplanted into the white patches to spread the pigment 
cells. Hair follicle transplantation is the latest novel modality with amazing results even 
in long standing vitiligo. 
Vitiligo patients are just differently colored, let us add color to their life by understanding 
the disease to dispel the myths and eliminate the stigma.