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Heal House Vitiligo Research 76 · Letter

Is vitiligo on areas hidden by clothing less of a psychological burden?

Hidden burden of non-exposed vitiligo: Psychological and quality of life impact in 283 patients

In short

Even for vitiligo on areas not visible to others, the psychological burden and reduced quality of life experienced by patients were by no means mild.

"It's covered by clothes anyway, so what does it matter?" Some patients hear such comments from others and feel even more distressed. Just because a spot is not noticeable to others does not mean the psychological burden is light. Until now, vitiligo research has mainly focused on exposed areas such as the face and hands. Therefore, the burden of hidden areas has received less attention. So we looked into this hidden burden by surveying 283 patients with vitiligo on areas covered by clothing. I participated in this study as a co-investigator.

Q1 Why do hidden areas still cause significant distress?

Because even if the spots are not visible, the patient's mind is not necessarily at ease. Even when white patches are located in areas covered by clothing, the patient is constantly aware of their presence. There is also the worry that 'they might spread to the face or hands someday.' There are many moments of feeling self-conscious in situations where the body must be exposed, such as at a swimming pool or bathhouse, or in relationships with close people. In this study, looking at 283 people with vitiligo on areas covered by clothing, these individuals also showed a clear psychological burden and reduced quality of life. The remark 'it's okay because it's not noticeable to others' actually ends up masking the patient's distress.

Closing remarks

Because the areas are not outwardly visible, the burden is easily considered light. But in reality, that is not the case. This study confirmed through a survey the voices of patients who say 'it's hard even though it's not visible.' I am also reminded that in my clinical practice, I should consider not only the location of the white patches but also the weight of the patient's feelings.

Reference

Jung Min Bae Dermatologist With sincere care and continuous research, I will be a reliable companion for vitiligo patients.

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