A clinico-epidemiological profile of vitiligo in female patients attending a tertiary care centre of North India and its impact on quality of life

Rabiya Bashir

doi:10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20260021

Authors

Rabiya Bashir Department of Dermatology, Government Medical College, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20260021

Keywords:

Vitiligo, Females, Quality of life, DLQI, North India

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is a chronic acquired depigmenting disorder with significant psychosocial consequences, particularly among female patients due to cosmetic concerns and sociocultural stigma. Data focusing exclusively on females and quality of life from North India remain limited.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology of a tertiary care centre in North India. Ninety female patients with clinically diagnosed vitiligo were enrolled. Demographic and clinical details were recorded. Quality of life was assessed using the dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests.

Results: The mean age of patients was 29.6±11.2 years. The most common age group affected was 18–30 years (42.2%). Non-segmental vitiligo was the predominant clinical type (75.6%). Facial involvement was observed in 51.1% of patients. The mean DLQI score was 10.8±4.6, indicating moderate to severe impairment of quality of life. Higher DLQI scores were significantly associated with younger age, facial involvement and unmarried status.

Conclusions: Vitiligo has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of female patients, particularly younger women and those with visible lesions. A holistic management approach addressing both clinical and psychosocial aspects is essential.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Taïeb A, Picardo M. Vitiligo. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(2):160-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp0804388

Krüger C, Schallreuter KU. A review of the worldwide prevalence of vitiligo in children and adults. Int J Dermatol. 2012;51(10):1206-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05377.x

Alikhan A, Felsten LM, Daly M, Petronic-Rosic V. Vitiligo: A comprehensive overview. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011;65(3):473-91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2010.11.061

Shah H, Mehta A, Astik B. Clinical and socio-demographic study of vitiligo patients. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2008;74(6):701-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0378-6323.45144

Parsad D, Dogra S, Kanwar AJ. Quality of life in patients with vitiligo. Indian J Dermatol. 2003;48(4):221-4.

Mattoo SK, Handa S, Kaur I, Gupta N, Malhotra R. Psychiatric morbidity in vitiligo: Prevalence and correlates in India. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2002;16(6):573-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-3083.2002.00590.x

Kent G, Al’Abadie M. Psychologic effects of vitiligo: A critical incident analysis. Br J Dermatol. 1996;135(6):895-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-9622(96)90112-7

Ongenae K, Dierckxsens L, Brochez L, Van Geel N, Naeyaert JM. Quality of life and stigmatization profile in a cohort of vitiligo patients. Br J Dermatol. 2005;152(6):1161-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.06456.x

Picardo M, Dell’Anna ML, Ezzedine K, Hamzavi I, Harris JE, Parsad D, et al. Vitiligo. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015;1:15011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2015.11

Behl PN, Bhatia RK. 400 cases of vitiligo: A clinico-therapeutic analysis. Indian J Dermatol. 1972;17(2):51-6.

Finlay AY, Khan GK. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)—A simple practical measure for routine clinical use. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1994;19(3):210-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2230.1994.tb01167.x

Hann SK, Nordlund JJ. Clinical classification of vitiligo. The Pigmentary System. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. 2006:637-47.

Sehgal VN, Srivastava G. Vitiligo: Compendium of clinico-epidemiological features. Skinmed. 2007;6(6):254-60.

Taïeb A. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Pigment Cell Res. 2000;13:41-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0749.13.s8.9.x

Basra MK, Fenech R, Gatt RM, Salek MS, Finlay AY. The Dermatology Life Quality Index 1994–2007: A comprehensive review of validation data and clinical results. Br J Dermatol. 2008;159(5):997-1035. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08832.x

Amer AA, Gao XH. Quality of life in patients with vitiligo: An analysis of the Dermatology Life Quality Index. J Egypt Womens Dermatol Soc. 2010;7(1):13-8.

Salzes C, Abadie S, Seneschal J, Whitton M, Meurant JM, Jouary T, et al. The Vitiligo Impact Patient Scale (VIPs): Development and Validation of a Vitiligo Burden Assessment Tool. J Invest Dermatol. 2016;136(1):52-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/JID.2015.398

Dave S, Thappa DM, Shankar V. Epidemiological profile of vitiligo in a tertiary care hospital in South India. Indian J Dermatol. 2003;48(4):208-13.

Spritz RA. The genetics of generalized vitiligo. J Invest Dermatol. 2011;131(2):307-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/skinbio.2011.7

World Health Organization. Mental health aspects of chronic skin diseases. 2012. Available at: https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_R15-en.pdf. Accessed on 12 October 2025.