Vitiligo

For a lay person:

Vitiligo is a long-term condition in which patches of skin lose their colour because the pigment cells are destroyed. It is thought to be autoimmune and can start at any age. It is not contagious or harmful in itself, but the patches burn easily and it can affect self-confidence.

For a trained medical person:

An autoimmune disorder in which CD8+ T cells destroy melanocytes, often associated with autoimmune thyroid disease; segmental and non-segmental forms differ in course. Diagnosis is clinical, aided by Wood's lamp, with thyroid testing considered. Treatment includes topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors, topical JAK inhibitors, narrowband UVB phototherapy, and surgical grafting for stable disease, together with sun protection and camouflage.

In Chinese medicine:

Liu and Tseng's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Liver Qi Stagnation; Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency; Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis; External Application. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: See a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and check for thyroid or other autoimmune problems. Psoralen-containing herbs or plant extracts applied with sunlight can cause severe burns, and Bu Gu Zhi (psoralea), often used for vitiligo, has been linked to liver injury.