The Dutch Institute for Pigment Disorders Foundation (SNIP) is the center of expertise in the Netherlands when it comes to pigment research. The SNIP is part of the Dermatology department of the Academic Medical Center of Amsterdam.

Do you suspect you have vitiligo and are you considering treatment?

Some tips for a good approach

• Go to your doctor and ask for a referral to a dermatologist/specialist.
• Find a treatment center near you.
• Call the treatment center and ask if they treat vitiligo and have experience with it.
• Make an appointment.
• Have a diagnosis made and ask for treatment advice.
• Feel free to ask for a second opinion at another treatment center.

Checklist

10 questions you can ask the doctor about the proposed treatment

1. Is this treatment necessary? If so, why?
2. What exactly does the treatment entail?
3. How long will the treatment take?
4. Does the doctor perform the treatment himself? If not, who?
5. How much experience does the doctor have with this treatment?
6. What are the chances that the treatment will be successful? And what does the doctor mean by successful?
7. What are the experiences of other patients?
8. Are there alternative treatments? If so, what are the pros and cons?
9. Why does the doctor choose this treatment?
10. What are the consequences if I abandon this treatment?

Five questions about medication use

1. How long should I take the medications?
2. Does the length of this period influence any harmful consequences?
3. What side effects can occur? And what are those chances?
4. Which side effects should I report to the doctor immediately?
5. Could the combination with medications I am already taking cause an adverse effect?

Different criteria may apply to the doctor than to yourself.

Therefore, always ask yourself the following questions

1. What do I expect from the treatment?
2. Do my expectations match those of the doctor?
3. Are the risks acceptable to me?
4. Do the advantages for me outweigh the disadvantages?
5. Which treatment method do I prefer?
6. Based on what I know now, do I want to start the treatment?