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Definitions and Classification

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Abstract

Since the first edition of this textbook, the nomenclature has been revised after an extensive international work within the Vitiligo Global Issues Consensus Conference (VGICC). Vitiligo/nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV) is a consensus umbrella term for all forms of generalized vitiligo. It is an acquired chronic pigmentation disorder characterized by white patches, often symmetrical, which usually increases in size with time, corresponding to a substantial loss of functioning epidermal and sometimes hair follicle melanocytes. The two other subsets of vitiligo defined by the international consensus are segmental vitiligo and unclassified/undetermined vitiligo which correspond to focal disease and rare variants. A series of hypopigmented disorders may masquerade as vitiligo, and some of them need to be ruled out by specific procedures including a skin biopsy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology, Bordeaux University Hospitals, and INSERM U 1035, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Alain Taïeb

  2. Cutaneous Physiopathology and CIRM, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Mauro Picardo

Authors
  1. Alain Taïeb
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  2. Mauro Picardo
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Correspondence to Alain Taïeb .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cutaneous Physiopathology & CIRM, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, Italy

    Mauro Picardo

  2. Hôpital Saint André, Service de Dermatologie Adulte et Pédiatrique, INSERM U 1035, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Alain Taïeb

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Taïeb, A., Picardo, M. (2019). Definitions and Classification. In: Picardo, M., Taïeb, A. (eds) Vitiligo. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62960-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62960-5_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62958-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62960-5

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