WHAT IS VITILIGO?
Vitiligo is an acquired skin disorder of pigmentation loss and leads to a disfigured cosmetic appearance. The stark color contrast it produces can cause significant reduction in quality of life due to disturbance of social interaction.
Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes—the cells that make pigment—in the skin are destroyed. Once the melanocytes are destroyed, white patches appear on the skin. These white patches may occur on any location of the body and in multiple areas. This destruction is thought to be due to an acquired autoimmune problem, but the cause is unknown.
WHO IS AFFECTED BY VITILIGO?
About 0.5 to 1 percent of the world’s population, or as many as 65 million people, have vitiligo. In the United States, 1 to 2 million people have the disorder. Half the people who have vitiligo develop it before age 20 and most develop it before their 40th birthday. The disorder affects both sexes and all races equally, however, it is more noticeable in people with darker skin.
WHAT DOES VITILIGO LOOK LIKE?
Those who develop vitiligo usually first notice white patches (depigmentation) on their skin, most commonly on sun-exposed areas of the body, including the hands, feet, arms, face, and lips. Other commonly affected areas are the armpits, groin and around the mouth, eyes, nostrils and navel.
The disorder generally appears in one of three patterns:
FOCAL
where depigmentation is limited to one or only a few areas.
SEGMENTAL
patches develop only on one side of the body.
GENERALIZED PATTERN
the most common pattern where depigmentation occurs symmetrically on both sides of the body.
VITILIGO IS NOT FOREVER
Fortunately, XTRAC treatments can minimize, and in many cases, even eliminate vitiligo depigmented patches. The XTRAC excimer laser delivers a targeted beam of UVB light and only the areas of skin affected by vitiligo receive the laser energy.
Though the laser spot size measures only 2cm x 2cm, due to rapid exposure times, relatively large, discrete areas can be treated in just 5 to 10 minutes, which is much faster than the duration of conventional phototherapy light sessions. And most importantly, XTRAC treatments achieve complete response rates faster in a higher proportion of patients.
WHAT ARE THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF VITILIGO?
Although vitiligo is usually not harmful medically and causes no physical pain, its emotional and psychological effects can be significant. Regardless of a person’s race and culture, white patches of vitiligo can cause emotional stress, particularly if the condition develops on visible areas of the body (such as the face, hands, arms, and feet) or on the genitals. Adolescents, who are often particularly concerned about their appearance, can be devastated by widespread vitiligo. Often, those suffering from vitiligo feel embarrassed, ashamed, depressed, or worried about how others will react.
VITILIGO CLINICAL RESULTS
*Individual Results May Vary
DOES MY PHYSICIAN OFFER XTRAC THERAPY FOR TREATING VITILIGO?
XTRAC is the #1 Targeted Therapy for Vitiligo by Dermatologists in Thousands of Convenient Locations. Contact Us at 1-800-974-8958 Today to Find A Physician Near You that offers XTRAC Therapy
