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Leslie Holbrook
Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations
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leslie.holbrook@fahlgren.com

Frequently Asked Questions about Vitiligo

What is vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a skin disease that causes patients to develop white lesions on the skin that vary in size and location. The white
lesions occur when pigment cells, called melanocytes, are destroyed and the pigment, melanin, can not be produced.
Melanocytes are normally found throughout the skin, hair follicles, mouth and eyes. With vitiligo, pigment can be lost in
any of these areas resulting in the white lesions.

How many people have vitiligo?

Vitiligo affects approximately 0.5 - one percent of the population or about 1 out of every 200 people in the United States.
While vitiligo is more noticeable in people with dark skin, the disease affects all ethnic groups with the same frequency
regardless of race or gender.

What causes vitiligo?

The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown, but it is often considered to be a combination of genetic, immunologic and
environmental factors. This means that some people may have a greater tendency to develop the disease when exposed
to the right trigger.

What is the cure for vitiligo?

At the present time, there is no cure for vitiligo. Research has advanced our understanding of the underlying factors
including genetic, immunological and environmental, but more research is required to fully understand the factors involved
and to find ways to reverse or block them.

What treatments are available for vitiligo patients?

There are two basic approaches to treatment: try to restore the normal pigment (repigmentation therapy), or try to destroy
the remaining pigment cells (depigmentation therapy).

How are vitiligo patients affected by the disease?

Although often considered a cosmetic issue, vitiligo can have a major negative impact on the quality of life of patients
suffering from the disease. Vitiligo patients often have low self esteem, feel depressed, stigmatized and, sometimes,
rejected by others. The majority of patients report being worried, anxious or concerned about the disease and how it
interferes with their lives. In addition, one third of vitiligo patients say the disease has interfered with their personal
relationships and sex lives.

How do patients cope with vitiligo?

Patient coping strategies vary and often fall into one of three areas. Approximately 20 percent of vitiligo patients actively
cope with their feelings and learn more about the disease. Another 40 percent of patients accept the disease, but ignore
the lesions and do not make an effort hide the lesions or to learn more about vitiligo. The final 40 percent of patients are
chronically embarrassed by the disease, go to great lengths to hide the lesions and withdraw from social interaction.

What are the most recent advancements in vitiligo research?

During the past 20 years, research on the role that melanocytes play in vitiligo has increased. Technical advances such
as gene mapping and cloning have permitted a rapid advance in the knowledge of melanocytes at the cellular and
molecular levels. In addition, the role of an autoimmune response in the selective removing vitiligo melanocytes from the
skin has been demonstrated. This autoimmune response may also underlie other diseases (i.e., thyoidism, diabetes,
pernicious anemia, etc.) that occur with higher frequency in patients with vitiligo.

Throughout its 24 year history, the National Vitiligo Foundation has awarded nearly $1.5 million in research grants that
support the understanding, cause, treatment and cure of vitiligo. These research projects have focused on the cause of
the selective melanocyte destruction by the immune system, environmental toxins and/or genes. In addition, several
clinical studies and investigations of animal models for vitiligo have also been supported by these NVF grants. Of
significance, several of the recipients of these NVF grants have gone on to developed research programs that have
subsequently achieved larger grant funds from the National Institutes of Health.

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