Generally, doctors say that hair going grey prior to the age of 35 qualifies as “premature. ” It’s even more uncommon for your eyes to change color past maturity. With vitiligo, your eyes may fade from brighter colors to more muted ones. Vitiligo can also change the color of your eyelashes, eyebrows, and facial hair.
Generalized vitiligo is more common than segmental. Most people develop vitiligo prior to the age of 20. Some people also develop occupational vitiligo from being exposed to certain chemicals or production processes. In these cases, the loss of pigmentation is often concentrated in those areas that were in contact with chemicals. Vitiligo spots are most commonly found on your neck, armpits, hands, knees, elbows, or face. Loss of color inside of your mouth or nose can also be a symptom.
For example, if your father or mother suffer from eczema, go ahead and mention this to your doctor. Your odds of developing vitiligo also increases if you’ve suffered from disorders, such as eczema.
There is no exact medical cause for why some skin cells begin to lose their pigmentation resulting in vitiligo. However, other skin issues do provide warning signs in some cases.
This is a great way for your doctor to rule out other conditions, such as fungal infections, which may appear the same when exposed to the lamp.
Let your doctor know if you’ve been suffering from any eye pains, itchiness or dryness. These are all signs of uveitis or possible eye damage. The optometrist may dilate your eyes using drops to check for uveitis.
If you are not comfortable consenting to a biopsy, another option is to go see a specialist, usually a dermatologist, for a second opinion or examination. A dermatologist may draw blood to test for antinuclear antibodies, which are often present in vitiligo patients.
Medications applied topically are not as effective on all areas of the body, such as the feet.
Avoid sun exposure and excessive light therapy if you have a diagnosis of vitiligo. Too much sun may put your skin at risk of further damage and accentuate abnormalities. Ask your doctor about how much light therapy is safe for you.
Vitamin D[14] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Antioxidant vitamins, such as A, C, and E[15] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Zinc[16] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Although some spots may disappear on their own, vitiligo is usually a lifelong condition.
