What is the Difference Between IGH and Vitiligo

The key difference between IGH and vitiligo is that IGH is a skin condition characterized by the presence of small, flat, pale, or white spots on the sun-exposed limbs, while vitiligo is a skin condition characterized by pale white patches that develop on the face, neck, hands, and in skin creases due to immune system problems.

Skin is the largest organ in the body. The skin protects the body and helps keep people healthy. There are many different problems that can affect the skin. Some of them cause uncomfortable symptoms such as itching, burning, redness, rashes, and different color patches.  IGH and vitiligo are two skin conditions. Both these skin conditions result in pale white patches appearing on different regions of the skin. However, these skin conditions occur due to different etiologies.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is IGH 
3. What is Vitiligo
4. Similarities – IGH and Vitiligo
5. IGH vs. Vitiligo in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – IGH and Vitiligo
7. Summary – IGH vs. Vitiligo

What is IGH?

Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) normally causes small, flat, pale, or white spots on the skin of sun-exposed limbs. It can affect both sexes, all races, and all skin phototypes. However, it is more common in women and people with skin of color. Skin aging, chronic sun exposure, genetic factors, and trauma or autoimmune factors can cause IGH. The symptoms of IGH may include smooth pale or white macules of size ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm in diameter on sun-exposed areas of the forearms, shins, V chest, and multiple asymptomatic lesions.

IGH can be diagnosed through physical examination, skin biopsy, and histology. Furthermore, treatment options for IGH may include sun protection, cryotherapy, topical steroids, tacrolimus, topical retinoids, chemical peel, excimer laser, and skin grafting.

What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a condition that causes loss of skin color in patches on the face, neck, and hands and in skin creases due to immune system problems. The symptoms of this condition may include patchy loss of skin color appearing on hands, face, and areas around body openings and genitals, premature whitening or graying of hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or beard, and loss of color in the tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose. Vitiligo can be caused by autoimmunity, heredity, and triggers such as stress, severe, sunburn, or skin trauma like contact with a chemical. Vitiligo seems to be present in people who have a family history of the disorder or who have autoimmune diseases such as Addison’s disease, pernicious anemia, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid disease, and type 1 diabetes.

Vitiligo can be diagnosed through family medical history and visual examination using wood’s lamp. Furthermore, treatment options for vitiligo may include medications such as corticosteroids, topical Janus kinase inhibitors, calcineurin inhibitors, light therapy, depigmentation therapy, skin graft, blister grafting, and counseling.

What are the Similarities Between IGH and Vitiligo?

• IGH and vitiligo are two skin conditions.
• Both these skin conditions cause pale white patches to appear on the different regions of the skin.
• Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination.
• They can be treated through medications like topical steroids and therapies.

What is the Difference Between IGH and Vitiligo?

IGH is a skin condition characterized by the presence of small, flat, pale, or white spots on the sun-exposed limbs while vitiligo is a skin condition characterized by pale white patches developing on the face, neck, and hands, and in skin creases due to immune system problem. This is the key difference between IGH and vitiligo. Furthermore, the risk factors for IGH are women and people with skin of color. On the other hand, the risk factors for vitiligo are people who have a family history of the disorder or who have autoimmune diseases such as Addison’s disease, pernicious anemia, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid disease, and type 1 diabetes.

The infographic below presents the differences between IGH and vitiligo in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

FAQ: IGH and Vitiligo

Can you get rid of IGH spots?

Corticosteroids, either topical or intralesional, topical retinoids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and surgical techniques are some of the treatment options for IGH.

When does vitiligo start?

Vitiligo usually starts before age 20. But it can start in early childhood as well.

What does vitiligo first look like?

Vitiligo starts with small skin patches that start to turn pale before becoming completely white as the pigment is destroyed.

Summary – IGH vs. Vitiligo

IGH and vitiligo are two skin conditions that cause pale white patches to appear on different regions of the skin. However, IGH is a skin condition that is characterized by the presence of small, flat, pale, or white spots on the sun-exposed limbs, while vitiligo is a skin condition that is characterized by pale white patches developing on the face, neck, and hands, and in skin creases due to immune system problem. This summarizes the difference between IGH and vitiligo.

Reference:

1. “Overview -Vitiligo.” NHS Choices, NHS.
2. Thomas, Dr. Liji. “Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH): Differential Diagnoses.” News Medical.net.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Focal-vitiligo” By Ahmed; Tamara Abrantes; John E. Harris, MD, PhD; Vitiligo Cover. – (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia