Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Current Dermatology Reports
Published in: Current Dermatology Reports 1/2015

01-03-2015 | Epidemiology (JI Silverberg, Section Editor)

The Epidemiology of Vitiligo

Author: Nanette B. Silverberg

Published in: Current Dermatology Reports | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Vitiligo is a common condition seen in a dermatology office, which has a variety of comorbidities. Worldwide, the prevalence of vitiligo ranges from 0.4 to 2.0 %, with regions of greater or lesser prevalence. Most studies demonstrate slightly greater prevalence in females and 50 % onset in childhood, but exceptions to these rules exist. Childhood vitiligo has been associated with atopic diathesis, halo nevi, and family history of vitiligo and autoimmunity. Post-pubescent vitiligo has been associated with greater acrofacial disease and thyroid disease, and early data supports reduced non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer risk. Disease severity is inversely proportional to distance from the equator, and birthplace outside the USA may be somewhat protective against severe disease. This article reviews the epidemiology of vitiligo and the epidemiologic relationship of vitiligo to comorbid diseases and family history, with a focus on recent literature.
Literature
1.
2.
Ezzedine K. Latent class analysis of a series of 717 patients with vitiligo allows the identification of two clinical subtypes. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2014;27:134–9.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Agarwal S, Gupta S, Ojha A, Sinha R. Childhood vitiligo: clinicoepidemiologic profile of 268 children from the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. India Pediatr Dermatol. 2013;30:348–53.CrossRef
4.
Kyriakis KP, Palamaras I, Tsele E, Michailides C, Terzoudi S. Case detection rates of vitiligo by gender and age. Int J Dermatol. 2009;48:328–9.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Howitz J, Brodthagen H, Schwartz M, et al. Prevalence of vitiligo. Epidemiological survey on the Isle of Bornholm, Denmark. Arch Dermatol. 1977;113:47–52.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Vora RV, Patel BB, Chaudhary AH, Mehta MJ, Pilani AP. A clinical study of vitiligo in a rural set up of Gujarat. Ind J Comm Med. 2014;39:143–6.CrossRef
7.
Nejad SB, Qadim HH, Nazeman L, Fadaii R, Goldust M. Frequency of autoimmune diseases in those suffering from vitiligo in comparison with normal population. Pak J Biol Sci. 2013;16:570–4.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Nunes DH, Esser LM. Vitiligo epidemiological profile and the association with thyroid disease. An Bras Dermatol. 2011;86:241–8.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Alissa A, Al Eisa A, Huma R, Mulekar S. Vitiligo—epidemiological study of 4134 patients at the National Center for Vitiligo and Psoriasis in Central Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2011;32:1291–6.PubMed
10.
Agarwal S, Gupta S, Ojha A, Sinha R. Childhood vitiligo: clinicoepidemiologic profile of 268 children from the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. India Pediatr Dermatol. 2013;30:348–53.CrossRef
11.
Radtke MA, Schäfer I, Gajur AI, Augustin M. Clinical features and treatment outcomes of vitiligo from the patients’ perspective: results of a national survey in Germany. Dermatology. 2010;220:194–200.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Ayanlowo O, Olumide YM, Akinkugbe A, Ahamneze N, Otike-Odibi BI, Ekpudu VI, et al. Characteristics of vitiligo in Lagos. Nigeria West Afr J Med. 2009;28:118–21.
13.
Romero FR, Romero AW, Almeida RM, Oliveira Jr FC, Filho Jr RT. Prevalence and risk factors for penile lesions/anomalies in a cohort of Brazilian men ≥40 years of age. Int Braz J Urol. 2013;39:55–62.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Boisseau-Garsaud AM, Garsaud P, Calès-Quist D, Hélénon R, Quénéhervé C, Claire R. Epidemiology of vitiligo in the French West Indies (Isle of Martinique). Int J Dermatol. 2000;39:18–20.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Krüger C, Schallreuter KU. A review of the worldwide prevalence of vitiligo in children/adolescents and adults. Int J Dermatol. 2012;51:1206–12.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Jacobsen DL, Gange SJ, Rose NR, Graham NMH. Epidemiology and estimated population burden of selected autoimmune disease in the United States. Clin Immmunol Immunopath. 1997;84:223–43.CrossRef
17.
Taylor A, Pawaskar M, Taylor SL, Balkrishnan R, Feldman SR. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008;7:14168.CrossRef
18.
Alkhateeb A, Fain PR, Thody A, Bennett DC, Spritz RA. Epidemiology of vitiligo and associated autoimmune diseases in Caucasian probands and their families. Pigment Cell Res. 2003;16:208–14.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Paradisi A, Tabolli S, Didona B, Sobrino L, Russo N, Abeni D. Markedly reduced incidence of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer in a nonconcurrent cohort of 10,040 patients with vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71:1110–6.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Shrestha R, Shrestha D, Dhakal AK, Shakya A, Shah SC, Shakya H. Spectrum of pediatric dermatoses in tertiary care center in Nepal. Nepal Med Coll J. 2012;14:146–8.PubMed
21.
Chen GY, Cheng YW, Wang CY, Hsu TJ, Hsu MM, Yang PT, et al. Prevalence of skin diseases among schoolchildren in Magong, Penghu, Taiwan: a community-based clinical survey. J Formos Med Assoc. 2008;107:21–9.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Yamamah GA, Emam HM, Abdelhamid MF, Elsaie ML, Shehata H, Farid T, et al. Epidemiologic study of dermatologic disorders among children in South Sinai. Egypt Int J Dermatol. 2012;51:1180–5.CrossRef
23.
Lerner B. Vitiligo. J Investig Dermatol. 1959;32:295–310.
24.
Hexsel CL, Eide MJ, Johnson CC, Krajenta R, Jacobsen G, Hamzavi I, et al. Incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer in a cohort of patients with vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;60:929–33.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Pajvani U, Ahmad N, Wiley A, Levy RM, Kundu R, Mancini AJ, et al. The relationship between family medical history and childhood vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55:238–44.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Sheth VM, Guo Y, Qureshi AA. Comorbidities associated with vitiligo: a ten-year retrospective study. Dermatology. 2013;227:311–5.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Kar PK. Vitiligo: a study of 120 cases. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2001;67:302–4.PubMed
28.
Jaigirdar MQ, Alam SM, Maidul AZ. Clinical presentation of vitiligo. Mymensingh Med J. 2002;11:79–81.PubMed
29.
Cho S, Kang HC, Hahm JH. Characteristics of vitiligo in Korean children. Pediatr Dermatol. 2000;17:189–93.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Sun X, Xu A, Wei X, Ouyang J, Lu L, Chen M, et al. Genetic epidemiology of vitiligo: a study of 815 probands and their families from south China. Int J Dermatol. 2006;45:1176–81.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Poojary SA. Vitiligo and associated autoimmune disorders: a retrospective hospital-based study in Mumbai. India Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2011;39:356–61.CrossRef
32.
Alzolibani A. Genetic epidemiology and heritability of vitiligo in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2009;18:119.PubMed
33.
Marinho Fde S, Cirino PV, Fernandes NC. Clinical epidemiological profile of vitiligo in children and adolescents. An Bras Dermatol. 2013;88:1026–8.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Nunes DH, Esser LM. Vitiligo epidemiological profile and the association with thyroid disease. An Bras Dermatol. 2011;86:241–8.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Habib A, Raza N. Clinical pattern of vitiligo. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2012;22:61–2.PubMed
36.
Shankar DS, Shashikala K, Madala R. Clinical patterns of vitiligo and its associated co morbidities: a prospective controlled cross-sectional study in South India. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2012;3:114–8.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
37.
Al-Refu K. Vitiligo in children: a clinical-epidemiologic study in Jordan. Pediatr Dermatol. 2012;29:114–5.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Nicolaidou E, Antoniou C, Miniati A, Lagogianni E, Matekovits A, Stratigos A, et al. Childhood- and later-onset vitiligo have diverse epidemiologic and clinical characteristics. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;66:954–8.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Halder RM, Grimes PE, Cowan CA, Enterline JA, Chakrabarti SG, Kenney Jr JA. Childhood vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987;16(5 Pt 1):948–54.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Mazereeuw-Hautier J, Bezio S, Mahe E, Bodemer C, Eschard C, Viseux V, et al. Segmental and nonsegmental childhood vitiligo has distinct clinical characteristics: a prospective observational study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62:945–9.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Silverberg N. Segmental vitiligo may not be associated with risk of autoimmune thyroiditis. Skinmed. 2011;9:329–30.PubMed
42.
Pagovich OE, Silverberg JI, Freilich E, Silverberg NB. Thyroid abnormalities in pediatric patients with vitiligo in New York City. Cutis. 2008;81:463–6.PubMed
43.
Ezzedine K, Diallo A, Léauté-Labrèze C, Séneschal J, Prey S, Ballanger F, et al. Halo naevi and leukotrichia are strong predictors of the passage to mixed vitiligo in a subgroup of segmental vitiligo. Br J Dermatol. 2012;166:539–44.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Narita T, Oiso N, Fukai K, Kabashima K, Kawada A, Suzuki T. Generalized vitiligo and associated autoimmune diseases in Japanese patients and their families. Allergol Int. 2011;60:505–8.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Gönül M, Cakmak SK, Oğuz D, Gül U, Kiliç S. Profile of vitiligo patients attending a training and research hospital in Central Anatolia: a retrospective study. J Dermatol. 2012;39:156–9.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Poojary SA. Vitiligo and associated autoimmune disorders: a retrospective hospital-based study in Mumbai. India Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2011;39:356–61.CrossRef
47.
Akay BN, Bozkir M, Anadolu Y, Gullu S. Epidemiology of vitiligo, associated autoimmune diseases and audiological abnormalities: Ankara study of 80 patients in Turkey. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24:1144–50.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Iacovelli P, Sinagra JL, Vidolin AP, Marenda S, Capitanio B, Leone G, et al. Relevance of thyroiditis and of other autoimmune diseases in children with vitiligo. Dermatology. 2005;210:26–30.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Prćić S, Djuran V, Katanić D, Vlaški J, Gajinov Z. Vitiligo and thyroid dysfunction in children and adolescents. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2011;19:248–54.PubMed
50.
Vrijman C, Kroon MW, Limpens J, Leeflang MM, Luiten RM, van der Veen JP, et al. The prevalence of thyroid disease in patients with vitiligo: a systematic review. Br J Dermatol. 2012;167:1224–35.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Uncu S, Yaylı S, Bahadır S, Okten A, Alpay K. Relevance of autoimmune thyroiditis in children and adolescents with vitiligo. Int J Dermatol. 2011;50:175–9.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Fleissig E, Gross M, Ophir I, Elidan J, Bdolah-Abram T, Ingber A. Risk of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with vitiligo. Audiol Neurootol. 2013;18:240–6.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Mahdi P, Rouzbahani M, Amali A, Rezaii Khiabanlu S, Kamali M. Audiological manifestations in vitiligo patients. Iran J Otorhinolaryngol. 2012;24:35–40.PubMedCentralPubMed
54.
Kalkanli N, Kalkanli S. Classification and comparative study of vitiligo in southeast of Turkey with biochemical and immunological parameters. Clin Ter. 2013;164:397–402.PubMed
55.
Afkhami-Ardekani M, Ghadiri-Anari A, Ebrahimzadeh-Ardakani M, Zaji N. Prevalence of vitiligo among type 2 diabetic patients in an Iranian population. Int J Dermatol. 2014;53:956–8.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Boelaert K, Newby PR, Simmonds MJ, Holder RL, Carr-Smith JD, Heward JM, et al. Prevalence and relative risk of other autoimmune diseases in subjects with autoimmune thyroid disease. Am J Med. 2010;123:183. e1-9.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Prindaville B, Rivkees SA. Incidence of vitiligo in children with Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Int J Pediatr Endocrinol. 2011;2011:18.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
58.
Michou L, Rat AC, Lasbleiz S, Bardin T, Cornélis F. Prevalence and distribution of autoimmune diseases in 368 rheumatoid arthritis families. J Rheumatol. 2008;35:790–6.PubMed
59.
Alenizi DA. Consanguinity pattern and heritability of vitiligo in Arar, Saudi Arabia. J Fam Comm Med. 2014;21:13–6.CrossRef
60.
Wang Y, Chan C-C. Gender differences in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease and sympathetic ophthalmia. J Ophthalmol. 2014.
61.
Kanwar AJ, Mahajan R, Parsad D. Effect of age at onset on disease characteristics in vitiligo. J Cutan Med Surg. 2013;17:253–8.PubMed
62.
Silverberg JI, Silverberg NB. Association between vitiligo and atopic disorders: a pilot study. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149:983–86.PubMed
63.
64.
Rodríguez-Martín M, de Paz NM, Mehtani P, Ferrer PC, Eliche MP, Martín BR, et al. Patients with vitiligo present fewer cardiovascular risk factors: results from a case-control study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013;27:124–5.CrossRefPubMed
65.
Schaefer I, Augustin M, Spehr C, Reusch M, Kornek T. Prevalence and risk factors of actinic keratoses in Germany—analysis of multisource data. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2014;28:309–13.CrossRefPubMed
66.
Teulings HE, Overkamp M, Ceylan E, et al. Decreased risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer in patients with vitiligo: a survey among 1307 patients and their partners. Br J Dermatol. 2013;168:162–71.CrossRefPubMed
67.
Silverberg JI, Silverberg NB. Quality of life impairment in children and adolescents with vitiligo. Pediatr Dermatol. 2014;31:309–18.CrossRefPubMed
68.
Silverberg JI, Silverberg NB. Association between vitiligo extent and distribution and quality-of-life impairment. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149:159–64.CrossRefPubMed
69.
Dolatshahi M, Ghazi P, Feizy V, Hemami MR. Life quality assessment among patients with vitiligo: comparison of married and single patients in Iran. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2008;74:700.PubMed
70.
Bin Saif GA, Al-Balbeesi AO, Binshabaib R, Alsaad D, Kwatra SG, Alzolibani AA, et al. Quality of life in family members of vitiligo patients: a questionnaire study in Saudi Arabia. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2013;14:489–95.CrossRefPubMed
71.
Tejada Cdos S, Mendoza-Sassi RA, Almeida Jr HL, Figueiredo PN, Tejada VF. Impact on the quality of life of dermatological patients in southern Brazil. An Bras Dermatol. 2011;86:1113–21.PubMed
72.
Arýcan O, Koç K, Ersoy L. Clinical characteristics in 113 Turkish vitiligo patients. Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2008;17:129–32.PubMed
73.
Silverberg JI, Silverberg NB. Association between vitiligo and atopic disorders: a pilot study. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149:983–86.PubMed
74.
Ezzedine K, Diallo A, Léauté-Labrèze C, Séneschal J, Prey S, Ballanger F, et al. Pre- vs. post-pubertal onset of vitiligo: multivariate analysis indicates atopic diathesis association in pre-pubertal onset vitiligo. Br J Dermatol. 2012;167:490–5.CrossRefPubMed
75.
Silverberg JI, Reja M, Silverberg NB. Regional variation of and association of US birthplace with vitiligo extent. JAMA Dermatol. 2014;150:1298–305.CrossRefPubMed
76.
Silverberg JI, Silverberg AI, Malka E, Silverberg NB. A pilot study assessing the role of 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels in patients with vitiligo vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62:937–41.CrossRefPubMed
77.
Silverberg JI, Silverberg NB. Clinical features of vitiligo associated with comorbid autoimmune disease: a prospective survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;69:824–6.CrossRefPubMed
78.
Silverberg JI, Silverberg AI, Malka E, Silverberg NB. A pilot study assessing the role of 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels in patients with vitiligo vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62:937–41.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
The Epidemiology of Vitiligo
Author
Nanette B. Silverberg
Publication date
01-03-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Dermatology Reports / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 2162-4933
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13671-014-0098-6

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

Current Dermatology Reports 1/2015 Go to the issue

Epidemiology (JI Silverberg, Section Editor)

Epidemiology of Chronic Pruritus: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?

Epidemiology (JI Silverberg, Section Editor)

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Atopic Dermatitis

Epidemiology (JI Silverberg, Section Editor)

Disease Burden Measures: a Review

Immunology (HC Lima, Section Editor)

Urticaria: a Multidisciplinary Disease. Where Are We Now?

Immunology (HC Lima, Section Editor)

Perspectives on Using Nanoscale Delivery Systems in Dermatological Treatment

Epidemiology (JI Silverberg, Section Editor)

Patient-Centered Outcomes in Dermatology