What is the Isomorphic Response of Vitiligo?

 

The isomorphic response is a phenomenon that induces normal skin to behave the same way as the lesions of pre-existing skin disease after being damaged, and the isomorphic response of vitiligo also means that after skin inflammation or trauma, localized white patches start to occur or existed white patches would expand. The isomorphic reaction is a common clinical manifestation of vitiligo patients and one of the triggering factors of vitiligo.

Most of the isomorphic responses appear in the progressive stage of vitiligo, and if an isomorphic response appears in the stable stage, it suggests that the disease may develop, isomorphic responses mostly occur in trauma, skin soft tissue infection, etc. It generally appears about a month after the skin damage, but it must occur when the skin’s basal cell layer or dermis is damaged, if only the outer layer of the skin cuticle is damaged, generally it will not cause an isomorphic response.

The occurrence of isomorphic response may be related to the damage of melanocytes in the inner layer or epidermis. In the process of wound healing, it would have the release of certain cytokines, free radicals, lymphocyte infiltration, and cytotoxic substances produced by bacteria, would make the melanocytes, which already have abnormal functions and morphology, more vulnerable to damage. The majority of the isomorphic response of vitiligo are thought to be autoimmune phenomena. Research documents show that the stimulation of external medicine, various skin inflammation: such as drug dermatitis, neurodermatitis, eczema, urticaria, local skin infections, etc., trauma surgery, friction, and pressure can aggravate the white patches, vitiligo patients should pay special attention those to and try to avoid them.

The key to preventing vitiligo isomorphic response is to avoid skin damage, which is a necessary condition for vitiligo homomorphic reaction to occur, especially in the progressive stage of vitiligo.

After the occurrence of the isomorphic response, topical irritating drugs, photochemotherapy, and autologous epidermal transplantation therapy should be avoided during treatment.