Vitiligo Specialist

West Derm Center

Dermatology located in Bronx, NY, White Plains, NY, New Rochelle, NY & Yonkers, NY

Vitiligo causes the loss of your natural skin color. It’s a medical condition that’s not dangerous to your health but has an immense impact on your self-image and confidence. The exceptional team at West Derm Center offers several treatments for vitiligo, including the cutting-edge Pharos™ excimer laser that significantly improves your appearance. To learn more about your treatment options, book an appointment online or call one of the offices in White Plains, New Rochelle, or Yonkers, New York, or one of their Bronx clinics in Pelham Gardens and Riverdale.

Vitiligo Q & A

What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a condition that causes the loss of your natural skin color. This loss of pigment may affect all skin types and appear anywhere on your body. In many patients, vitiligo begins with a few small patches, then gradually worsens over time.

There are two types of vitiligo:

Segmental vitiligo

This type of vitiligo appears on one part of your body, such as a leg, arm, or face. About half of all patients with segmental vitiligo lose color in their hair, eyelashes, or eyebrows. In most cases, the pigment loss progresses for about a year and then stabilizes.

Non-segmental vitiligo

Non-segmental vitiligo, the most common type, develops on both sides of your body. For example, it may appear on both hands or knees. The loss of color often starts in your hands or around your mouth or eyes.

Many patients experience a rapid loss of color that suddenly stops and eventually starts again. This ongoing cycle may continue throughout your lifetime, creating an ever larger patch of depigmented skin.

What causes vitiligo?

Vitiligo occurs when the cells that produce skin pigment, called melanocytes, die. Experts believe that non-segmental vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks melanocytes. Segmental vitiligo may develop due to problems with your body’s nervous system.

How do dermatologists treat vitiligo?

The treatment that’s best for you depends on your preferences, the severity of your vitiligo, and where the patches are located on your body. Some patients choose to use cosmetics such as makeup, self-tanners, and skin dyes to camouflage the patches. If that’s not for you, then your treatment options at West Derm Center include:

Pharos excimer laser

The Pharos excimer laser delivers a beam of ultraviolet B (UVB) light that specifically targets the areas of skin affected by vitiligo. With a series of treatments, the laser can minimize and, in many cases, eliminate depigmented patches of vitiligo.