The relative genetic and immune protection against melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers in those with vitiligo is reassuring. The results of recent studies allow us to be cautiously optimistic when discussing the risk of skin cancer caused by therapeutic exposure to narrow-band ultraviolet B light. However, we should continue to recommend sun protection at all other times to avoid burning in vitiliginous skin and to decrease incidental ultraviolet exposure. It is also important to perform full skin checks regularly in light of the prolonged courses of phototherapy required to repigment vitiliginous skin and maintain repigmentation thereafter.
Keywords: Basal cell skin cancer; Cancer; Depigmentation; Leukoderma; Melanoma; Nonmelanoma skin cancer; Phototherapy; Skin cancer; Squamous cell skin cancer; Vitiligo.
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