title: A Multicenter Collaborative Study by the Korean Society of Vitiligo about Patients' Occupations and the Provoking Factors of Vitiligo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It was previously thought that persons with genetic predispositions to vitiligo develop the condition after exposure to various precipitating environmental factors. However, in many cases, the aggravating factors of vitiligo have not been clearly identified.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the aggravating factors of vitiligo in the working environment and daily life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 489 vitiligo patients were recruited from 10 institutions in South Korea; patients were provided with a questionnaire about environmental factors and behavior patterns in the workplace and in daily life, and their association with vitiligo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-five of the 470 enrolled patients (20.2%) answered that environmental risk factors in daily life and in the workplace affected the development of vitiligo. The most frequently attributed causes were trauma and burn (13.6%), followed by sunlight (12.8%), stress (12.8%), cleaning products/disinfectant/chemicals (4.9%), and hair dye (2.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitiligo of the hand and foot was associated with frequent exposure to aggravating materials and overexposure to sunlight, along with frequent trauma of these areas, all of which could be considered important risk factors of vitiligo. The development of vitiligo could potentially be controlled through the early detection of aggravating factors.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: In Kyung
authors: IK
authors: Jeon
authors: Department of Dermatology, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea.
authors: Chul Jong
authors: CJ
authors: Park
authors: Department of Dermatology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Mu-Hyoung
authors: MH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Dermatology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Dong Youn
authors: DY
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors: Hee Young
authors: HY
authors: Kang
authors: Korea Institute of Vitiligo Research & Drs. Woo and Hann's Skin Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seung Kyung
authors: SK
authors: Hann
authors: Department of Dermatology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors: Gwang Seong
authors: GS
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Dermatology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Hee Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Whiteline Skin Clinic, Changwon, Korea.
authors: Tae Heung
authors: TH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Dermatology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University Graduate School of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors: Ai-Young
authors: AY
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Dermatology, Severance Hospital, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang Ho
authors: SH
authors: Oh
keywords: Environment; Occupations; Provoking factor; Risk factors; Vitiligo