Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that impacts roughly one percent of the population. The cells of the immune system incorrectly attack melanocytes (the cells that make pigment), which then die, causing the skin to lose pigment and patches of white skin to appear. Vitiligo usually affects the skin, but it can develop anywhere we have pigment (including the hair, inside the mouth, and the eyes). For patients dealing with vitiligo, New Jersey’s Skin & Laser Center of NJ explains that the lighter-colored patches are most common on the hands, fingers, wrists, feet, elbows, knees, around the eyes or mouth, and on the genitals. Other symptoms of vitiligo include patches of skin that sunburn easily, hearing loss, changes to eye color, and itchy patches of skin. This is not a contagious disorder, and it is not life-threatening, but it can be life-altering, causing low self-esteem and depression. Many people affected by vitiligo change the way they dress and behave in an effort to conceal the symptoms of their condition.
There is no way to predict how much color a person will lose, or whether symptoms of the condition will worsen or remain the same. Millions of people worldwide have vitiligo, and most develop symptoms before the age of 21. The risk of developing vitiligo increases if you have a close relative with a history of the condition, or have another autoimmune disorder such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or alopecia areata. There is currently no lasting cure for vitiligo, but the condition is highly treatable, and the providers at Skin & Laser Center of NJ offer effective, empathetic treatment for patients with this condition.
In late 2016 she founded the Skin & Laser Center of NJ, LLC in Mahwah, NJ where she continues to treat her medical and cosmetic patients, and further pursues her interest in laser medicine. Dr. Lieb’s mission is to provide high quality dermatologic care using up-to-date medical information and cutting edge technology in an efficiently run practice. Dr. Lieb is board certified in dermatology, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, a member of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the New Jersey Dermatologic Society. Dr. Lieb is a Staff Dermatologist at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.
While treatment cannot cure vitiligo, it can significantly mitigate symptoms. Many patients need to maintain routine treatments to continue to receive the beneficial results. Before developing a treatment plan, your provider will obtain a detailed medical and family history and conduct a thorough skin evaluation. You also may need a blood test to check the health of your thyroid gland because people with vitiligo often have an autoimmune thyroid disease as well.
After your dermatologist has diagnosed you with vitiligo, they will recommend one or more of the following treatments:
It is not possible to predict how a patient will respond to treatment, and it is important to keep in mind that no one treatment works for everyone, results can vary from one part of the body to another, and combining two or more treatments often gives the best results. The skincare team at Skin & Laser Center of NJ will work with you to identify the right treatment for you and develop a long-term treatment plan to address your symptoms.
Skin & Laser Center of NJ in Ramsey provides a wide range of medical, surgical, and cosmetic services for patients in and around New Jersey. Patients can get diagnosis and treatment for acne, skin cancer (with Mohs surgery), chronic conditions (like psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema), moles, melasma, vitiligo, athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, scabies, contact dermatitis, and more. Cosmetic options include wrinkle-relaxing BOTOX® and Dysport®, dermal fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane®, Kybella® for reducing a double chin, chemical peels, Hydrafacial MD, microneedling, laser hair removal, laser acne treatments, laser scar treatments, laser tattoo removal, CoolSculpting®, laser vein treatments, sclerotherapy, and more.
© 2024 Skin and Laser Center of NJ.
Medical Marketing & Website Design by MetaMed
