title: Characteristics of vitiligo in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitiligo is disfiguring in the darker racial ethnic group as a result of the sharp contrast between the normal skin and the depigmented skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiology and clinical profile of vitiligo patients at the dermatology clinic of an urban tertiary hospital of Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  All consecutive patients with a diagnosis of vitiligo seen at the Dermatology Clinic between October 2003 and October 2006, were included in the study. The diagnosis of vitiligo was made based on the clinical findings of depigmented macules or patches with a sharp margin, normal texture, intact sensations and no scaling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnosis of vitiligo was made in 186 (2.8%) patients, with a slight female preponderance. Vitiligo affected all age groups: the youngest presented at age one and the oldest at eighty six years of age. The face and the limbs were the most affected parts of the body. Fifteen (0.81%) patients presented with features suggestive of associated autoimmune disease like, Type 1 Diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of vitiligo in this study is similar to those obtained in previous studies from different parts of Nigeria. The patients will benefit from other modalities of management apart from the medical management offered hence a designated centre for management of vitiligo will be a respite to them.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria. solayan05@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ayanlowo
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Olumide
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akinkugbe
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahamneze
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Otike-Odibi
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Ekpudu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nnaji
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Akolawole
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult