Vitiligo and quality of life: On fifty cases in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background: Healthy skin with integrity is essential for maintaining one’s physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Vitiligo, a chronic autoimmune dermatosis characterized by asymptomatic, achromic macules, affects the integrity of the skin. Methodology: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted from March to June 2019 in six public hospitals in the city of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The patients included in the study were followed in the dermatology departments of these structures for vitiligo, aged at least eighteen years and consenting. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the vitiligo-specific health-related quality of life scale (VitiQoL) were employed to measure QoL (quality of life). Results: A total of fifty patients agreed to participate in the study. The mean age was 40.56 years, ranging from 18 to 79 years. There were as many females as males (25), and 23 married patients out of the fifty. The majority of the patients (43/50) resided in urban areas. Twenty-six patients had at least secondary education and eighteen patients worked in the informal sector. The average duration of vitiligo progression was 10.56 years, ranging from three months to 49 years. The evolution of vitiligo was stationary for 17/50 patients. The lesions were mainly located on the head and neck. The average body surface area (BSA) affected was 12.04%, ranging from 1% to 82%. The treatment was mainly local and general corticosteroid therapy. The evaluation of the patients’ quality of life (QoL) by the DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index) yielded a mean score of 5.44/30. Vitiligo had a small effect on the QoL of eighteen patients and a moderate effect on sixteen patients. VitiQoL assessment yielded a mean total score of 32.32/96 and stigma had the highest score of 18.04/36. The patients’ QoL was influenced by age and body surface area affected by vitiligo. Restriction of participation in activities and changes in the patient’s behavior were significantly correlated with the duration of vitiligo progression, followed by stigma, which was related to vitiligo progression. Conclusion: The alteration of the QoL of the patients with vitiligo was low to moderate. This alteration was related to the stigmatization by one’s environment.

The effect of combined calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate ointment in the treatment of localized vitiligo

“…Spontaneous regression of the disease is slow, and distal body parts, such as the hands and feet, are more resistant to repigmentation than other body parts. The disease is associated with a decrease in patients' quality of life and may contribute to psychological disorders [2].…”

Exploring the Efficacy of Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser as an Add-on Combination to Conventional Therapies for Treatment-Resistant Vitiligo (A Review Article)

“…2,3 Several studies have shown that patients with vitiligo experience low self-esteem, body image issues, and social problems, which contribute to a lower quality of life. [4][5][6][7][8] Women, patients over 40, and people with darker skin tones may experience a greater impact on their quality of life. [9][10][11] People with vitiligo lesions in acral areas may have a lower quality of life due to the visibility of the lesion.…”