Vitiligo can significantly impact a patient's quality of life.
Patient selection: dark-skinned individual with vitiligo
About half of patients experience no or minor impact, but the remainder may be significantly impacted.
Factors impacting the patient's quality of life:
(1) involvement of a large skin area
(2) involvement of visible areas
(3) disease burden
(4) withdrawal or lack of acceptance by friends and family
(5) greater sensitivity to appearance
(6) severity of an underlying autoimmune disease
(7) cultural stigma
(8) interference with occupation
Negative impact on patient:
(1) social withdrawal
(2) embarrassment
(3) depression
(4) anxiety about health
(5) low self-esteem
(6) poor body image
(7) suicidal ideation
Even patients who can conceal the skin involvement may suffer a deterioration in the quality of life.
