Common, Uncommon, and Rare Presentations of Vitiligo

The presentation on vitiligo focuses on its various forms, specifically distinguishing between common segmental and non-segmental vitiligo, and discusses the signs indicative of disease activity. The speaker reviews the epidemiology of vitiligo, noting its prevalence of about 0.6% diagnosed by physicians, potentially rising to 1% when considering undiagnosed cases. The presentation also highlights the significant stigma surrounding the disorder, emphasized by a study revealing high exclusion rates in job descriptions for individuals with vitiligo. The speaker explains how vitiligo can present unusually, including rare forms and signs of activity, such as confetti-like pigmentation, trichrome lesions, and the Koebner phenomenon, which may indicate ongoing disease progression. Distinctions between segmental and non-segmental vitiligo in terms of onset and autoimmune associations are critical for effective treatment. The importance of thorough patient history, screening for autoimmune issues, and visual examinations via Wood’s lamp is stressed. The development of a score for assessing activity in vitiligo is discussed as a tool for monitoring disease progress and treatment efficacy. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity for clinicians to identify the type of vitiligo, perform comprehensive assessments, and consider hair color when discussing repigmentation potential with patients, ensuring they receive accurate prognostic information.