Epidemiology, definitions and classification

Abstract

Core Messages: Vitiligo occurs worldwide with an estimated overall prevalence of less than 0.5% in population-based studies. Vitiligo vulgaris/NSV (non-segmental vitiligo) is an acquired chronic pigmentation disorder characterized by white patches, often symmetrical, which usually increase in size with time, corresponding to a substantial loss of functioning epidermal, and sometimes hair follicle melanocytes. Segmental vitiligo (SV) is defined descriptively as for NSV, except for a unilateral distribution (asymmetric vitiligo) that may totally or partially match a cutaneous segment such as a dermatome, but not necessarily. NSV and SV may coexist, and in this case SV lesions are usually more refractory to treatment. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.