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How was your vitiligo diagnosed?

Posted by nancy morosin on August 13, 2011 at 6:05am in Main

What is the official diagnosis for vitiligo?  My son has white spots that look exactly like vitiligo but he was put under a Woods Lamp and the derm said, it's not vitiligo cause there is still pigment and that with vitiligo the pigment goes away immediately.  He thinks it's pitriasis alba.  I am wondering if I should go for a second opinion?  Is the Woods Lamp accurate?

 

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Replies

  • Vitiligan Princess August 19, 2011 at 12:39pm
    it would'nt hurt to get a 2nd, 3rd and maybe even 4th opinion, with my vitiligo, the pigment is coming back, it's like freckling, when i went to my derm, she said, you have vitiligo but your spots are pink, that is a good sign it shows there is still PIGMENT left, so i honestly beleive that we still have some pigment, we just have to stimulate the skin cells in some way to make it work right, well in some cases, not all, eachof us and our vitiligo are different, good luck on your journey <3 Niki
  • Amanda Flynn August 13, 2011 at 3:30pm

    Great question Nancy! You should head over and read this post I started a while ago http://www.vitiligofriends.org/forum/topics/when-did-you-find-out-y... From what I understand it is pretty rare that they used a lamp to determine your son's Vitiligo. It seems as though most doctors don't really run specific tests. That's why I question whether we all have Vitiligo or doctors just assumed. If you do get a second opinion I'd love to know the results. Best of luck to you!

    • nancy morosin > Amanda Flynn August 13, 2011 at 3:40pm
      That's so weird cause it looks like vitiligo to me but the derm thinks it is something called pitriasis alba...I'm so confused!!  He's supposed to be a very good derm too.  So I'm not sure if I can be relieved or if I should still worry.
      • Amanda Flynn > nancy morosin August 13, 2011 at 3:46pm
        I think a second opinion would help put your mind at ease! A lot of skin disease look like Vitiligo. For example. my niece had a white spot on the back of her knee and it's eczema. It looks just like Vitiligo.
        • nancy morosin > Amanda Flynn August 13, 2011 at 3:51pm
          Do you know if this Wood lamp is accurate? 
          • Amanda Flynn > nancy morosin August 13, 2011 at 3:53pm
            Unfortunately I do not. It's really interesting though. I'll be looking up more on it.
            • nancy morosin > Amanda Flynn August 13, 2011 at 3:54pm
              Yeah, who knows!  The derm seemed pretty confident though......but I don't know.
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