Vitiligo is a fairly common acquired skin disease that is manifested by the appearance of white spots on the skin, with a diameter of a few millimeters to centimeters.

The Latin name for vitiligo is the term vitiligo (Aulus Cornelius Celsus, 25pX-50 µX), which means defect or blemish. Apart from the change in color, the skin remains normal in its composition and texture.

Vitiligo affects both sexes equally and its incidence is estimated at 1-2% of the general population. It can occur at any age but most often occurs in people 10-30 years old. It is not a contagious disease. Vitiligo can be hereditary to some extent, as 20-30% of patients report having the disease in another family member.

Vitiligo belongs to the autoimmune diseases, in which the body itself attacks its own tissues and organs. In the case of vitiligo, the organism itself attacks certain melanocytes in the body and causes the production of melanin to stop, resulting in the appearance of white marks or hairs. The disease can be located in a single part of the body or spread throughout the body.

Vitiligo is a chronic disease. It does not threaten the physical health of the patients, but when it appears to a large extent and in quite visible places, it can cause significant self-confidence problems in the people who are ill, resulting in the development of psychological problems.

Therapeutic treatment that leads to a cure of the disease in all patients does not exist. The results of the treatments available to date vary and it is not possible to guarantee complete repigmentation of the area. After treatment is stopped, the disease may recur in the same or other parts of the body.

Until recently, we could only use phototherapy and certain creams containing either cortisone or topical calcineurin inhibitors to treat vitiligo. A few months ago, however, a new cream was approved both in the US and in Europe to treat the disease. This cream has shown satisfactory effectiveness in the studies so far and it is expected to come to Greece soon.