Depigmentation may be recommended for individuals with vitiligo that affects more than fifty percent of their bodies. During depigmentation, a specialist applies a lotion to the normal skin to bleach the residual pigment and match its tone to the remaining depigmented skin. Continuous application of a hydroquinone-based medication is required to prevent the epidermis from repigmenting. Hydroquinone can cause the following adverse effects:
Itching Embarrassing Redness
Typically permanent, depigmentation leaves the epidermis without a protective barrier against the sun. However, when the color returns (re-pigmentation), it may differ from the person’s original skin tone. In addition, the administration of depigmentation treatments to certain skin regions can sometimes result in the loss of pigmentation in other body regions. (4)
