Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Balancing Act: Managing the Pigment-Loss Condition Vitiligo

Dermatology Family Nurse Practitioner Christina Smitley, FNP-C with Advanced Dermatology PC, Provides Tips on Treatment Choices for Vitiligo


News provided by

Advanced Dermatology P.C.

Sep 25, 2020, 10:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

Christina Smitley, FNP-C
Christina Smitley, FNP-C

ALBERTSON, N.Y., Sept. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Megawatt model Winnie Harlow's striking appearance is in part due to her symmetrical dark-and-light skin pattern. The actor Jon Hamm, who entered millions of households as Don Draper in Mad Men, wore makeup on his hands to camouflage their sudden loss of pigment. "The public faces of vitiligo," notes Christina Smitley, a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in dermatology with Advanced Dermatology PC, "have helped increase awareness."

Research continues on vitiligo, which results in the skin's loss of melanocytes: the specialized skin cells that produce melanin, which gives skin its color. "There may be a number of causes," explains Smitley. "Genes, environment, disease, stress – perhaps in conjunction. Some cite a 'convergence theory,' with a number factors together triggering an autoimmune response."

Vitiligo is not contagious and, in most cases, does not carry health risks.

Post this

As many as two percent of the population develop vitiligo. "It typically onsets without warning," says Smitley. "Patients will observe the sudden appearance of white patches of skin. For those with darker skin, the patches can be especially noticeable. Often, vitiligo starts on the hands and can also present on the face. Understandably, patients can be distressed."

Most vitiligo is 'generalized' – also called 'nonsegmental' – with pigment loss occurring in corresponding patches on both sides of the body, and start-and-stop periods over time. In cases of 'localized' vitiligo, however, pigment loss is limited. Finally, in rare instances, some patients develop universal vitiligo: the skin loses almost all its pigment.

Vitiligo is not contagious and, in most cases, does not carry health risks. "However," Smitley cautions, "it can occur alongside eye and autoimmune conditions, and, for that reason, is a medical condition that requires evaluation."

"Also," continues Smitley, "ongoing research is opening up future possibilities."

With that in mind, she makes the following suggestions.

6 Tips for Managing Vitiligo:

1. Don't 'wait and see': "Make an appointment with a specialist as soon as you notice any loss of skin pigment," emphasizes Smitley. "The earlier vitiligo is identified, the greater the treatment choices the patient has."

2. Get a diagnosis: "This is the first step in a management plan," notes Smitley. "One of the reasons to work with a dermatologist with expertise in skin-pigment conditions is that there are different causes for pigment loss, with vitiligo being one. A specialist's examination may include a skin biopsy: The absence of melanocytes in a skin sample is indicative of vitiligo."

3. Understand your choices: "Location, extent, and progression," lists Smitley, "are important factors when considering re-pigmentation options. For example, early onset on the face can respond to topical corticosteroids. For small areas, lasers can be an effective choice, while UVA and UVB phototherapy are often better suited for more extensive areas. Topical and light therapy can also be used in tandem – 'PUVA' refers to the use of topical or oral psoralen in conjunction with UVA light treatment. And for adults with 'stable' vitiligo – that is, no change in at least six months – skin-transplant surgery is an option."

4. Make sure that you are aware of any side effects: "Light therapy, steroids, surgery," Smitley enumerates. "These treatments carry varying side effects. For example, steroids can cause skin atrophy, and PUVA treatments can affect the eyes. Make sure you understand the risks of any treatment and follow your doctor's monitoring plan to minimize those risks."

5. Stay informed of your treatment's timeline and its duration: "In some cases," explains Smitley, "treatment requires a time commitment. For example, PUVA is typically a series of weekly sessions carried out over the course of a year. Also, treatments may last for varying times: Pigment restored by light treatment, for example, may begin to fade after a year. Being fully informed from the outset is an important factor in patient satisfaction."

6. Build a partnership with your skin-care specialist: "There are promising treatments in the pipeline," advises Smitley. "For example, the topical agent ruxolitinib is being evaluated as a re-pigmenting treatment. Make sure that you're working with an expert who can keep you informed of new possibilities."

"Growing awareness of vitiligo," concludes Smitley, "supports patients' access to timely care that can help them manage the condition."

Bio: Christina Smitley, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner with Advanced Dermatology pc, and is board-certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Advanced Dermatology P.C. and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery (New York & New Jersey) is one of the leading dermatology centers in the nation, offering highly experienced physicians in the fields of cosmetic and laser dermatology as well as plastic surgery and state-of-the-art medical technologies. http://www.advanceddermatologypc.com

SOURCE Advanced Dermatology P.C.

Related Links

http://www.advanceddermatologypc.com

Modal title

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.