Vitiligo and social acceptance

Background and aim: Vitiligo is a chronic skin disease characterized by a total or partial loss of melanocytes from the epidermis and other tissues of the skin. It is placed in the class of secondary psychiatric disorders and can also lead to psychological problems. The main aim of this study was to assess social acceptance in vitiligo patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all of the patients (n=150) with vitiligo who were referred to dermatology clinics in Rafsanjan, Iran. The patients completed a social acceptability questionnaire (Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale), and information regarding their demographic characteristics was also collected. Data were gathered and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS-19 software. Results: The mean age of the patients was 27.56 +/- 10.53 years and 65.9% were female. Mean score of social acceptance among the patients was 13.51 +/- 7.08. The results showed that the mean scores of social acceptance were significantly lower in women, in those with single marital status, in those with face and neck lesions, and in those with disease duration less than 5 years. Conclusion: The results showed that certain groups of patients with vitiligo are at greater risk of experiencing lower social acceptance.