Searching for information about Vitiligo in Jacksonville? Vitiligo is a skin condition where patients develop white lesions on their skin. Flat areas of normal-feeling skin appear with complete pigment loss and a darker border. The edges of the lesions, which vary in size and location, are well defined but irregular in shape. With vitiligo, the melanocytes or the cells that produce pigment in the skin, hair follicles, mouth and eyes stop producing melanin. As a result, white patches can appear on many different parts of the body. Due to the contrast of the lighter lesions, Vitiligo is more noticeable on darker skin.

The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown, but evidence suggests the skin condition may be the result of genetic, immunologic and environmental conditions. This means that some people may have a greater tendency to develop the disease when exposed to the right trigger. Vitiligo can be difficult to treat but early treatment options include the following:

• XTRAC®Excimer Laser (ultraviolet light)
• Oral Medications (such as trimethylpsoralen)
• Topical Skin Medications (such as corticosteroid creams)
• Immuno-Suppressants (such as Elidel or Protopic)
• Re-Pigmenting Agents (such as methoxsalen)

Most people with vitiligo are in good general health, although this skin condition may also occur with other autoimmune disorders such as thyroid disease, pernicious anemia or Addison’s disease. Vitiligo (often called leukoderma) frequently affects areas of the patient’s face, elbows and knees, hands and feet, and genitalia. Similar patches also appear on the mucous membranes that line the inside of the mouth and nose, and the inner layer of the eyeball (or retina). The hair that grows on areas affected by vitiligo sometimes turns white. To learn more about your skin treatment options, call Park Avenue Dermatology of Orange Park at 1-904-541-0315 to schedule an appointment.