A Multicenter Collaborative Study by the Korean Society of Vitiligo about Patients' Occupations and the Provoking Factors of Vitiligo

Abstract

BackgroundIt was previously thought that persons with genetic predispositions to vitiligo develop the condition after exposure to various precipitating environmental factors. However, in many cases, the aggravating factors of vitiligo have not been clearly identified.ObjectiveTo identify the aggravating factors of vitiligo in the working environment and daily life.MethodsA total of 489 vitiligo patients were recruited from 10 institutions in South Korea; patients were provided with a questionnaire about environmental factors and behavior patterns in the workplace and in daily life, and their association with vitiligo.ResultsNinety-five of the 470 enrolled patients (20.2%) answered that environmental risk factors in daily life and in the workplace affected the development of vitiligo. The most frequently attributed causes were trauma and burn (13.6%), followed by sunlight (12.8%), stress (12.8%), cleaning products/disinfectant/chemicals (4.9%), and hair dye (2.1%).ConclusionVitiligo of the hand and foot was associated with frequent exposure to aggravating materials and overexposure to sunlight, along with frequent trauma of these areas, all of which could be considered important risk factors of vitiligo. The development of vitiligo could potentially be controlled through the early detection of aggravating factors.

Association of class I and II HLA alleles and haplotypes with susceptibility to vitiligo: a study of patients with vitiligo from southeast Brazil

“…Other theories suggest that melanocyte autotoxicity may be the main cause of the disease. The autotoxicity can be due to contact with toxic substances such as free radicals, phenol and its derivatives and excessive exposure to environmental factors, stress, and sunlight …”

“…The autotoxicity can be due to contact with toxic substances such as free radicals, 8 phenol and its derivatives 9 and excessive exposure to environmental factors, stress, and sunlight. 10 Vitiligo can be classified into three types: localized, generalized, and universal. Localized vitiligo is further subdivided into focal (patient has one or more hypochromic macules that are randomly distributed), segmental (macules are present on segments of the body), and mucosal (oral or genital mucosa is affected).…”

Clinical Profiles of Vitiligo With Narrowband Uvb and Topical Corticosteroid Therapy at Dr. Soetomo Hospital

“…There was no family history of vitiligo found in this study. Other precipitating factors can include emotional stress, physical trauma or burns, exposure to sunlight, and exposure to chemicals (Jeon et al, 2014). A history of trauma to the skin can trigger the formation of the Koebner phenomenon, which increases the risk of vitiligo.…”

Minimally invasive and targeted therapeutic cell delivery to the skin using microneedle devices

“…It is characterized by the development of depigmented patches on the skin, hair or both, caused by the localized death or loss of function of pigment‐producing melanocytes. The current theory is that vitiligo is caused by altered inflammatory and immune responses, with genetic and environmental factors also playing important roles. There is no definitive cure for vitiligo, with current treatments aiming to maintain and restore pigmentation.…”