Vitiligo Patients Seeking Depigmentation Therapy: A Case Report and Guidelines for Psychological Screening
Vitiligo is characterized by a loss of cutaneous and mucosal pigmentation and often is associated with psychological distress. Depigmentation therapy can be used to eliminate residual pigment, thereby creating an evenly depigmented skin tone. Patients often seek depigmentation therapy to even their skin tone when a large body surface area is affected by vitiligo or when exposed areas (eg, face, hands) are affected and do not respond to repigmentation therapy. Psychological screening of patients is recommended when considering depigmentation therapy for vitiligo. We report the case of a 24-year-old man with vitiligo who sought depigmentation therapy and withheld crucial information regarding his psychiatric and medication history. We also provide guidelines for a rational approach to psychocutaneous screening of patients with vitiligo seeking depigmentation therapy.