Can a 2 year old have vitiligo?

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?

Diagnosis. A dermatologist usually can make a diagnosis of vitiligo just by looking for the telltale white patches on the skin. On kids with very fair skin, a special tool called a Woods lamp might be used.

At what age does vitiligo usually start?

Vitiligo can start at any age, but usually appears before age 30. Depending on the type of vitiligo you have, it may affect: Nearly all skin surfaces. With this type, called universal vitiligo, the discoloration affects nearly all skin surfaces.

Does focal vitiligo go away?

There is no cure for vitiligo. The goal of medical treatment is to create a uniform skin tone by either restoring color (repigmentation) or eliminating the remaining color (depigmentation). Common treatments include camouflage therapy, repigmentation therapy, light therapy and surgery.

How is vitiligo treated in toddlers?

If your child is diagnosed with vitiligo, your doctor may first recommend topical medications, most commonly corticosteroids or immune modulators. Light treatments (phototherapy) can also reduce the inflammation that causes vitiligo.

Can childhood vitiligo go away?

Stability of vitiligo followed by repigmentation is the primary end point in the treatment of childhood vitiligo. Often, the disease is unstable in many cases, thus requiring systemic treatment with oral corticosteroids.

Where does vitiligo start in kids?

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.

How many years does vitiligo take to spread?

It spreads very quickly, faster than the other forms, but only for about 6 months (sometimes up to a year). It’s such a rapid pace that patients assume it will soon cover their entire body, but it stops abruptly and usually remains stable, without changing, forever after that.

What can be mistaken for vitiligo?

Pityriasis versicolor can sometimes be confused with vitiligo, as they both cause the skin to become discoloured in patches. But there are ways to tell the difference: vitiligo often develops on both sides of your body at the same time, whereas pityriasis versicolor may not.

What are the symptoms of vitiligo 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 to start treatment for early stage vitiligo?

The children with sings of vitiligo on the skin often face hostile feelings towards them on the part of equals in age. The treatment should be started immediately after early vitiligo in children is diagnosed.

What causes patches of vitiligo on the skin?

Vitiligo in children. It appears on the skin in the form of patches. Causes of Vitiligo: The exact cause of development of Vitiligo is not known but following factors are known to participate in the formation of Vitiligo in a person.

What happens to your hair when you have vitiligo?

At first, you might not realize that you have vitiligo. One of the first stages that people overlook is premature graying of the hair. A white streak can blaze across your hair or occur on the eyebrows or eyelashes. Even hair sprouting on the affected areas of skin will lose pigment.