Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder characterized by loss of melanocytes, leading to milky white macules (depigmented patches) on the skin.
Mnemonic: "V.I.T.I.L.I.G.O. = Very Irregular, Total,
Idiopathic Loss of Individual's Generalized Opacity"
CAUSES & PATHOGENESIS OF
VITILIGO
- Autoimmune Theory (Destruction of Melanocytes by T-Cells).
- Genetic Theory (Runs in Families – HLA Association).
- Self-Destruction Theory (Toxic Melanin Precursors Kill Melanocytes).
- Neural Theory (Nerve Dysfunction Affects Pigmentation).
- Triggering Factors – Stress, Sunburn, Skin Trauma.
Mnemonic: "A.G.S.N.T." (Autoimmune, Genetic,
Self-Destruction, Neural, Triggers)
TYPES OF VITILIGO
- Focal Vitiligo → One or few white patches in a limited area.
- Segmental Vitiligo → One side of the body (Dermatomal Pattern).
- Generalized Vitiligo → Most Common Type, Symmetrical, Wide Distribution.
- Acrofacial Vitiligo → Affects Lips, Tips of Fingers, Toes.
- Universal Vitiligo → Almost Complete Loss of Pigmentation.
Mnemonic: "F.S.G.A.U." (Focal, Segmental, Generalized,
Acrofacial, Universal)
CLINICAL FEATURES OF VITILIGO
- Milky White Macules (Round or Oval, Well Defined).
- Common on Face, Hands, Knees, Elbows, Genitals.
- Tri-Color & Quadri-Color Vitiligo (Different Shades of White & Brown).
- Koebner’s Phenomenon (New Patches Appear on Trauma Sites).
- Perifollicular Repigmentation (Brown Spots Around Hair Follicles).
- Mnemonic: "M.T.K.P." (Milky White, Tri-Color, Koebner’s,
Perifollicular Repigmentation)
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF
VITILIGO
- Pityriasis Versicolor (Superficial Fungal Infection, Scaly Patches).
- Chemical Leukoderma (Due to Chemical Exposure – Irregular Borders).
- Leprosy (Loss of Sensation in White Patches).
- Albinism (Congenital – Since Birth, No Patchy Distribution).
Mnemonic: "P.C.L.A." (Pityriasis, Chemical, Leprosy,
Albinism)
DIAGNOSIS OF VITILIGO
- Clinical Examination (White Patches on Sun-Exposed Areas).
- Wood’s Lamp Test (Lesions Glow Bright White Under UV Light).
- Skin Biopsy (Absence of Melanocytes).
- Blood Tests (Check for Autoimmune Diseases – Thyroid, Diabetes).
Mnemonic: "C.W.S.B." (Clinical, Wood’s Lamp, Skin Biopsy,
Blood Tests)
TREATMENT OF VITILIGO
1. MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
- Topical Steroids (Clobetasol – Reduces Inflammation, Aids Repigmentation).
- Calcineurin Inhibitors (Tacrolimus – For Sensitive Areas Like Face).
- Psoralens (PUVA Therapy – Psoralen + UV Light).
- Narrow Band UVB (Gold Standard for Generalized Vitiligo).
Mnemonic: "S.C.P.U." (Steroids, Calcineurin, Psoralens,
UVB Therapy)
2. SURGICAL MANAGEMENT (For
Stable Vitiligo)
- Skin Grafting (Transplanting Pigmented Skin to White Patches).
- Melanocyte Transplant (Cultured or Non-Cultured).
- Tattooing (For Small, Resistant Areas).
Mnemonic: "G.M.T." (Grafting, Melanocyte Transplant,
Tattooing)
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT OF
VITILIGO
- For Early-Stage Vitiligo:
- Sepia, Silicea, Natrum Mur, Arsenicum Album.
- For Autoimmune-Associated Vitiligo:
- Thuja, Sulphur, Phosphorus, Calcarea Carb.
- For Stress-Induced Vitiligo:
- Ignatia, Natrum Carb, Staphysagria.
Mnemonic: "S.S.N.A." (Sepia, Silicea, Nat Mur, Arsenicum
for Early Vitiligo)
FINAL REVISION WITH MNEMONICS
- Definition = "V.I.T.I.L.I.G.O. = Very Irregular, Total, Idiopathic Loss of Individual's Generalized Opacity"
- Causes = "A.G.S.N.T." (Autoimmune, Genetic, Self-Destruction, Neural, Triggers)
- Types = "F.S.G.A.U." (Focal, Segmental, Generalized, Acrofacial, Universal)
- Clinical Features = "M.T.K.P." (Milky White, Tri-Color, Koebner’s, Perifollicular Repigmentation)
- Differential = "P.C.L.A." (Pityriasis, Chemical, Leprosy, Albinism)
- Diagnosis = "C.W.S.B." (Clinical, Wood’s Lamp, Skin Biopsy, Blood Tests)
- Treatment = "S.C.P.U." (Steroids, Calcineurin, Psoralens, UVB Therapy)
- Surgery = "G.M.T." (Grafting, Melanocyte Transplant, Tattooing)
- Homeopathy = "S.S.N.A." (Sepia, Silicea, Nat Mur, Arsenicum for Early Vitiligo)
