Majority of vitiligo patients suffer from depression, some even considered suicide, says study

A study has found that the majority of people suffering from vitiligo live with crippling psychological trauma and even face social exclusion, which takes a massive toll emotionally and on their quality of life.

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI:

Vitiligo is a skin condition characterised by loss of skin pigmentation, resulting in white patches.

In the study, 100 per cent of vitiligo patients surveyed said they felt embarrassed about their appearance, and 54.7 per cent had stopped attending social functions altogether.

Conducted among 430 government employees across Maharashtra living with vitiligo, the study found that 87 per cent of participants reported anxiety or concern regarding their condition from in-laws.

The findings of the study were published in the Annals of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in January, highlighting the staggering psychological trauma and social exclusion faced by people living with vitiligo.

Led by Dr Rinky Kapoor and Dr Debraj Shome, co-founders and directors of The Esthetic Clinics, the research provides rare insight into the experiences of patients long overshadowed by the clinical focus of dermatology.