Concise review of recent studies in vitiligo

Abstract

Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentry disorder of the skin and mucous membranes which manifests as white macules and patches due to selective loss of melanocytes. Etiological hypotheses of vitiligo include genetic, immunological, neurohormonal, cytotoxic, biochemical, oxidative stress and newer theories of melanocytorrhagy and decreased melanocytes survival. There are several types of vitiligo which are usually diagnosed clinically and by using a Wood's lamp; also vitiligo may be associated with autoimmune diseases, audiological and ophthalmological findings or it can be a part of polyendocrinopathy syndromes. Several interventions are available for the treatment for vitiligo to stop disease progression and/or to attain repigmentation or even depigmentation. In this article, we will present an overall view of current standing of vitiligo research work especially in the etiological factors most notably the genetic components, also, types and associations and various and newer treatment modalities.

Figure 1.

Treatment algorithm for vitiligo. The treatment order was determined by the level of evidence in the literature for each treatment.