Dr Christopher Lim

Hello, This is perhaps the most common question which I face on a regular basis. Strictly speaking, there is no cure for vitiligo at the moment. This is because there is a non-zero chance of recurrence of the condition which persists in spite of treatment which is difficult to predict. There are, however, viable treatment options available to patients. Depending on the extent of vitiligo and the areas affected, patients can achieve reasonable degrees of repigmentation over time. The main keys to achieving results are a combination of adherence to therapy and patience.

Hello, This is a commonly asked question I face from many of my patients, and the answer is always the same. No, there are no foods that have been found to cause vitiligo. Within the Southeast Asian region, it is a common belief that diet plays a role in the development of the condition. However, the truth is that to date, there is a lack of sufficient evidence to prove that there are any foods linked with the development of vitiligo. I hope that this answers the question.

Hello, The treatment duration, as well as treatment options, may vary slightly depending on the area affected by vitiligo. The treatment of vitiligo tends to follow a few general principles and chiefly depends on phototherapy in order to achieve repigmentation. At the same time, it is well established that certain areas of the body respond differently to phototherapy, with the face and neck regions being the most responsive, and the fingers and toes being the least responsive.

Hello, This is a great question! In the process of research aimed at identifying the underlying cause for vitiligo, scientists have postulated that vitiligo can be triggered by stress to the pigment producing cells of the skin. Some potential vitiligo triggers have been identified: Genetic susceptibility Sunburn Mechanical trauma (e. g. friction, cuts) Chemical exposure Low mood / Abnormal emotional stress Some of my patients have found that after one or a combination of the above-mentioned triggers, they began to notice progressive depigmentation occurring on their skin.

Hello, Phototherapy is a large umbrella term for the use of ultraviolet (UV) light for the purpose of treating skin conditions. There are a number of different applications for phototherapy (especially in different skin conditions) and it stands as one of the bread-and-butter techniques for treatment of vitiligo beyond the use of topicals. In vitiligo, the patient's skin has undergone an autoimmune-mediated destruction of pigment-producing cells. The role of phototherapy is to: stabilise the skin condition and stimulate the remaining melanocytes for purposes of repigmentation.

In a word, no. Vitiligo is definitely not fatal. The condition is not life-threatening. At most, people with the condition may experience a mild itch over the affected skin. However, for the most part, vitiligo rarely presents with any itch or pain. The largest source of harm from vitiligo comes from general ignorance and lack of knowledge with respect to the condition. The resultant social stigmas attached to vitiligo cause far-reaching effects on people's confidence and general well-being.

Hello, thanks for the question. To begin with, the underlying causes for vitiligo are poorly understood though there are several triggers which have been associated with development of the condition. These triggers can range from emotional stress/trauma, exposure to certain industrial chemicals or even physical trauma (e. g sunburn, or in your case, cuts or scratches). This appearance of vitiligo along areas of trauma is something described as Koebner's phenomenon. Certain skin conditions (including vitiligo) have been found to form on skin along lines of irritation or trauma.

Hello! Vitiligo is an acquired skin depigmentation which occurs in approximately 1% of the population worldwide. It can occur at any age, and most commonly appears as white patches on the skin. While the mechanism for vitiligo is understood to arise as a result of an autoimmune process that targets the pigment producing cells of the body, the exact triggers of this process are not as well understood. Some patients have had links to the following: Autoimmune diseases: Such as autoimmune thyroid disease and lupus. Genetic factors: 20 - 30% of patients have a positive family history.

Hello there, this is quite a good question. Based on the appearance of the skin shown in the pictures, there is visible dryness of the skin with some overlying redness which is resulting from scratching. This is a common issue for Singaporeans who travel from our humid climate to a comparatively cold and dry country. Especially for travellers who have recently returned from the Northern hemisphere (e. g USA, Europe, Japan, China). The sudden relative drop in humidity results in a drying of the skin and a resultant itching.