Almost 1 percent of the world’s population has vitiligo. People with vitiligo have patches of white skin. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. It is a condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the body’s own cells.
To diagnose vitiligo, your doctor will look closely at your skin. They may use a special type of light that makes spots of vitiligo look chalky. You might also have a skin sample taken to look for pigment cells.
Treatments are available. A type of light therapy called UVB phototherapy is commonly used to treat the disorder. It uses special lamps that encourage the pigment cells in your skin to regrow.
July’s WELCOA Health Bulletin highlights facts surrounding vitiligo, diagnosis and treatment, and some tips and strategies to keep in mind if you have vitiligo.
To access the WELCOA Health Bulletin – “Blotchy Skin – Vitiligo Explained” as well as other health and safety topics such as “Safe Sleeping for Babies, Protect the Skin You’re In, and Caring for Your Kidneys”, visit https://hr.uconn.edu/worklife/ and click "WELCOA Health Bulletins" under QUICK LINKS.
To access the July Well Balanced Monthly Newsletter, please visit https://hr.uconn.edu/well-balanced/
Be sure to check back each month for more helpful and informative bulletins.
For more information, contact: Michelle Monko/Human Resources at michelle.monko@uconn.edu