Can vitiligo appear in children?

Can vitiligo appear in children?

Vitiligo commonly presents in children, with half of all cases developing before 20 years of age. Although studies have characterized differences between pediatric and adult vitiligo, little is known about vitiligo presenting in early childhood.

How do I know if my child has vitiligo?

The first signs of vitiligo in kids are white patches on the skin that are commonly found on the hands, feet, arms, face, and lips. Sometimes, vitiligo in babies also results in whitening of hair. In some children, vitiligo patches don’t spread whereas in some children, it spreads rapidly all over the body.

What does vitiligo look like in children?

White patches are the main vitiligo symptoms. Patches are commonly found on the hands, feet, arms, face and lips, and children with vitiligo may also notice white hair. In some children, vitiligo patches don’t spread, and in others they do. It is not usually a life-threatening condition.

When do children develop vitiligo?

Vitiligo can start at any age, but about half of the time it shows up before 20 years of age. It affects people of all races, but the spots are easier to see on those with darker skin.

How can I help my child with vitiligo?

Here are ways to help if your child has vitiligo:

1. Sunscreen. One of the most important things your child can do is wear sunscreen every day to protect against skin cancer.
2. Cosmetics.
3. Corticosteroid creams.
4. Photochemotherapy with ultraviolet A (also known as PUVA).
5. Narrow-band ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy.

How do doctors test for vitiligo?

A skin biopsy involves removing a small portion of the affected skin tissue to check whether there are pigment cells (melanocytes) in the skin. The skin sample will be evaluated under a microscope in the lab. If it shows that there are no pigment cells present, a diagnosis of vitiligo will likely be confirmed.

Can vitiligo in babies be treated?

Phototherapy. Phototherapy (treatment with light) may be used for children or adults if: topical treatments have not worked. the vitiligo is widespread.

Can leucoderma be confused with vitiligo?

Because of these symptoms leucoderma (pictures in gallery) can develop, the signs of which are often confused with vitiligo. It is very complicated to treat these two diseases without assistance of the medical specialist. The drugs for treatment for vitiligo must be suggested by an attending doctor.

What does early vitiligo look like in children?

Early vitiligo in children (picture 5) can start even after simple cold, the complications of which adversely affect the immune system. In this stage vitiligo on the skin looks like slightly observable faint pink spotting.

Can vitiligo in children be treated without treatment?

Because of the fact that vitiligo in small children happen rare, parents can neglect the disease. This is a profound mistake: without treatment the skin disease vitiligo (pictures in gallery) will worsen that can result in grave psychological problems.

Can vitiligo spread all over the body?

In some children, vitiligo patches don’t spread whereas in some children, it spreads rapidly all over the body. The skin of a child with vitiligo start losing its colour and appear lighter than natural skin colour. The loss could be in patches and then spread all over.