Vitiligo

by Bruno
(Ireland)

I have attached a picture of my penis. I have patchy areas of discolouration on it and have had this problem now for the past 9 years. Can you tell me what it is please?

Penile Vitiligo

The most likely cause for this is vitiligo, a condition that causes loss of pigmentation to the skin or hypopigmentation. This can occur anywhere on the body and is always more exaggerated in dark skin.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system goes wrong and causes the death or malfunction of melanocytes, the cells that produce the skin pigment melanin. The condition is associated with other autoimmune conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, pernicious anaemia and rheumatoid arthritis and sometimes runs in families.

If skin is affected in sun exposed areas then it is important to use skin sun block. If cosmetically an issue, there are cosmetic products available to camouflage the skin, but this shouldn't be used on the penis.


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