Share your insights

Help us by sharing what content you've recieved in your exams


Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a chronic patchy depigmenting skin condition due to T-cell-mediated melanocyte destruction.

Suggested approach to vitiligo osce station

Describing lesions

  • Areas of depigmentation
    • β€˜There are multiple well-demarcated patches of depigmentation in a generalised distribution.’
    • β€˜They range in size from 1-4cm and have irregular borders.’
    • β€˜These lesions are flat and there are no secondary features.’
    • β€˜These lesions are consistent with vitiligo.’

Differential diagnosis

  • TineaΒ versicolor
  • Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation
  • Pityriasis alba
  • Scarring
  • Tuberculoid leprosy
Depigmented skin lesion

Management

  • General:Β avoid sun and use strong sun cream (sun-exposed areas will not tan but will burn), avoid skin trauma
  • Screen for other autoimmune diseases
    • Thyroid disease
    • Pernicious anaemia
    • Diabetes
    • Addison’s disease
  • Cosmetic camouflage creams
  • Topical corticosteroids (e.g. clobetasol, mometasone)
  • Topical calcineurin inhibitors (e.g. tacrolimus)
  • Phototherapy

Try a question or two to test yourself

Which other conditions may vitiligo be associated with?

What may trigger vitiligo lesions?

Oops! This section is restricted to members. Click here to signup!

What is a halo naevus?

Oops! This section is restricted to members. Click here to signup!

Dermatological skin exam OSCE station

  1. Dermatological skin exam
  2. Find more stations here

No comments yet πŸ˜‰

Leave a Reply