Abstract
Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentary skin disorder characterized by white maculae on the skin associated with social stigma. Vitiligo has major impact on the quality of life due its high cosmetic value, chronic nature of disease and long term ineffective treatments. Vitiligo patients suffer from low self-esteem and poor body image that affects their emotional and psychological well-being. To investigate quality of life of Vitiligo patients, psychological impact of unpredictable course of disease and long term treatment among South Indian population. A total of 155 Vitiligo patients, undertaking treatment in dermatology clinic at the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM), who completed the Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) questionnaire, participated in this study. Patients with Vitiligo averaged at about 27.4% of maximum psychological impairment as measured by the DLQI summary score. Disability in patients was highest in treatment category with 54.6% of impairment followed by symptoms and feelings (41.83%). Dark skin, unmarried, slow responders to the treatment and those having chronicity more than 5 years showed worse quality of life and had 70%, 61%, 62%and 76.5% of impairment in the treatment front of DLQI respectively when compared to light skin (50%), married (52.5%), rapid responders (26%) and chronicity less than 5 years (52%). There was no significant difference in the quality of life between male and female Vitiligo patients (p=0.88). Our results show that Vitiligo patients suffer in all aspects of life especially in treatment aspect of DLQI. Psychological impairment strongly affects the social well-being of Vitiligo patients.
Highlights
Vitiligo, known as leukoderma, is an acquired depigmentary disorder characterized by the appearance of white patches resulting from the loss of functional melanocytes and melanin from the skin [1]
Most of the patients were in the second and third decade of their life. It is more acute in the case of young women and children; the majority of the Vitiligo cases are reported during stages of active development
No age is immune to Vitiligo, the disease is very rarely observed at birth [12]
Summary
Known as leukoderma, is an acquired depigmentary disorder characterized by the appearance of white patches resulting from the loss of functional melanocytes and melanin from the skin [1]. Idiopathic, and worldwide common depigmentation disorder with an estimated prevalence from 0.1 to 8%. These numbers are based on clinical population studies and field research examining inhabitants of geographically enclosed areas. Vitiligo is not a physically damaging disease; other than an increased sensitivity to UV radiation most of the disease effects are social and psychological, especially for dark-skinned races. There are both surgical and nonsurgical treatments for Vitiligo but fails to give cosmetically acceptable pigmentation [6]
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