Heal House Vitiligo Research 23 · Letter
Can vitiligo develop on scars or wound sites?
Vitiligo at a keloid scar: A possible case of Koebner phenomenon
In short
This is a case of vitiligo developing on a keloid scar. It is an example of the Koebner phenomenon, where the disease appears on irritated skin, and shows why it is important to reduce unnecessary skin irritation in vitiligo.
In a patient who had an old keloid scar on the chest, we observed vitiligo appearing only on that scar. Vitiligo has the property of newly appearing at sites of irritation, such as wounds or friction. This is called the Koebner phenomenon. This case, where the disease settled on the trace of irritation—the scar—was a good example that visually confirms this phenomenon. So we summarized and reported this observation.
Q1 Can vitiligo develop on scars or wound sites?
Yes, it can. This is called the Koebner phenomenon. Vitiligo has the property of newly appearing at sites where the skin is irritated or injured, such as wounds, friction, burns, or surgical marks. In this case, vitiligo developed only on an old keloid scar. It could be seen as an example of the Koebner phenomenon, where the trace of irritation—the scar—triggered the disease. This means that the more active the vitiligo, the more it can react to even minor skin irritation and spread. Therefore, I advise people with vitiligo to avoid scratching or vigorously rubbing the skin and to avoid unnecessary wounds as much as possible.
Closing remarks
This case visually shows why 'not irritating the skin carelessly' is important in managing vitiligo. It provides good evidence for discussing with patients that new tattoos, piercings, or aggressive procedures may instead trigger white patches. Just as treating the disease is important, not providing an opportunity for it to spread is also a key aspect of management.
