We get many people asking us how they can tell the difference between vitiligo and albinism. The two conditions may look similar, but they are quite different. So we thought we would create a simple guide to help you understand the differences. Here we discuss the difference between Vitiligo and Albinism and what you should know. Vitiligo and albinism are two conditions that affect the pigmentation of the skin, but they are often misunderstood and confused with each other. While both conditions can result in the loss of skin coloration, they have distinct causes, symptoms, and treatments. Usin ..read more

Vitiligo is a complex condition, but it does respond to treatment, and not all treatment is costly. You can do a lot at home by changing your habits and the products you use to help with your skin condition. Here we discuss the causes of the condition and how to stop the spread of Vitiligo. Vitiligo and your immune system: The body’s immune system usually works to detect and eliminate invading micro-organisms like viruses, bacteria, and parasites using antibodies. However, there are times when this system malfunctions, mistakenly identifying a part of the body, such as the skin, as a foreign t ..read more

Vitiligo can develop at any age, including during childhood. It is important to monitor your child’s skin for any changes in pigmentation, especially if they have risk factors such as a family history of Vitiligo. In this article, we discuss Vitiligo in Children, the Symptoms, Treatment, Psychosocial impact, Prevention, and Support for the Child and Parent. Family History: If one or more family members, especially parents or siblings, have Vitiligo, the child has a higher risk of developing the condition. While not everyone with a family history of Vitiligo will develop it, there is a genetic ..read more

We recently had a case where a new patient who had previously never had Vitiligo, noted new spots appearing on her face after using a different exfoliator to what she had used in the past. In this article, we discuss Vitiligo and Exfoliators and how to best avoid skin trauma or irritation to your skin that can essentially cause Vitiligo to trigger or spread. In this case, the Vitiligo only appeared in the areas where she had used the exfoliator. Vitiligo that is triggered by skin traumatised by being irritated, rubbed, or injured is caused by the Koebner phenomenon. The Koebner phenomenon refe ..read more

Vitiligo can affect various areas of the body, including joint areas. Joint areas are places where the skin is more prone to skin trauma such as friction, stretching, and movement. While Vitiligo can potentially appear anywhere on the body, including joint areas, these areas might be more susceptible due to these factors. Common joint areas that can be affected by Vitiligo include Vitiligo Hands, Neck, Ankles, Elbows, Knees, and Underarms. In general, Vitiligo on joint areas is due to the patient being predisposed to Vitiligo. However, we can treat Vitiligo on joint areas successfully. It is i ..read more

Genetic Vitiligo is a form of skin disorder that is inherited through genetics. Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin loses its natural pigment, resulting in white or depigmented patches on the skin, hair, and mucous membranes. There are several different genes that have been linked to Vitiligo, including genes involved in the Immune System – Melanin Production, and Oxidative Stress. It is thought that variations in these genes may increase the risk of developing Vitiligo or contribute to the severity of the condition. Melanin Production: Melanin is a pigment that is produced by specialise ..read more

“Vitiligo treatment” is a phrase that conjures up a range of feelings from scepticism and doubt, to eagerness and hope, and then excitement and exhilaration. Vitiligo sufferers will all recognise these emotions. Vitiligo is a cosmetically disfiguring disease, in which smooth white patches appear on the skin, most commonly around the eyes, mouth, elbows, wrists, hands and ankles. The disease can sometimes involve large areas when the patches grow and merge, but it is rare for people to lose all skin pigment. Vitiligo can affect anyone, but it is more noticeable in people with darker skin. About ..read more

When meeting someone for the first time, it takes less than a second to form an opinion of someone, and that happens mostly by looking at a person’s face. Here we discuss Vitiligo Face Treatments and how to cope with the condition during treatment. Vitiligo can be treated, and here we discuss the various treatments for Vitiligo on the different areas of the Face. Namely the Eyes, Lips, Cheek, and Forehead. We also discuss ways to help you cope with Vitiligo while you are undergoing treatment. Coping with Vitiligo and being able to ‘de-stress’ is important. Not only does it speed up treatm ..read more

Gemma (age 27): Vitiligo lip treatment – Case Study Vitiligo Lip Treatment – Case Study This story is based on fact, but the names of the people involved have been changed to respect their privacy. The story demonstrates a true account of real events, told as truthfully as replication and effect allow. Gemma’s parents emigrated from Italy to Franschhoek, Western Cape (South Africa) in 1989 and opened a small restaurant, specialising in southern Italian food. Ten years later, they bought an old Cape Dutch farmstead with whitewashed walls and wooden sash windows. They turned this beautiful, tha ..read more

Here we discuss Vitiligo Do’s and Don’ts. As we know, the cause of Vitiligo is not currently known, although it is thought to be linked to an autoimmune disorder, which results in the immune system attacking its own healthy tissues in error, instead of attacking foreign cells such as viruses or bacteria. The first signs of Vitiligo may be in an area of the skin that has received extensive sun damage or chemical trauma. Vitiligo is thought to be triggered by a combination of genetics and environmental conditions and can manifest at any age. Follow some simple rules and put your Vitiligo into re ..read more