Vitiligo - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Vitiligo or leukoderma is a chronic skin condition that causes loss of pigment, resulting in irregular pale patches of skin. The disease has been around for thousands of years. Vitiligo occurs in 1-2% of the population. It affects both races and all ages. It is an acquired progressive disorder in which some or all of the melanocytes in the interfollicular epidermis, and occasionally those in the hair follicles, are selectively destroyed. Vitiligo usually starts as small areas of pigment loss that spread and become larger with time.

Vitiligo (pronounced vit-ill-EYE-go) is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes in the skin, the mucous membranes, and the retina are destroyed. Melanocytes are cells that make pigment. Mucous membranes are tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose and genital and rectal areas. The retina is the inner layer of the eyeball.

Causes

There are several theories regarding the cause of vitiligo but the actual cause is not fully known. According to one theory, people with vitiligo develop antibodies that, turn upon them and destroy their own melanocytes instead of protecting them. There is another theory according to which the melanocytes somehow attack and destroy themselves. Finally, some people with vitligo have reported that a single event such as severe sunburn or an episode of emotional distress is the main cause of this order. Scientifically, events of this nature have not been accepted as the main cause of vitiligo.

Areas of skin with patches of vitiligo have no or very few melanocytes. Therefore melanin cannot be made, and the colour of the skin is lost. It is not known why the melanocytes go from affected areas of skin. They may be destroyed by the immune system or 'self-destruct' for reasons not yet known. There is some genetic factor involved and vitiligo may 'run in the family'. About 1 in 3 affected people have some other family member who is also affected. However, 2 in 3 affected people do not have other family members affected so it is not just an inherited problem.

Symptoms

Vitiligo is more noticeable in darker skinned people because of the contrast of white patches against dark skin.There is a sudden or gradual appearance of flat areas of normal-feeling skin with complete pigment loss. Lesions appear as flat areas with no pigment and with a darker border. The edges are sharply defined but irregular.Frequently affected areas are the face, elbows and knees, hands and feet, and genitalia.

The Facts on Vitiligo

Affecting 1% to 2% of the population, vitiligo (pronounced "vit-il-eye-go") is a skin condition in which a loss of pigment causes the skin to appear white (depigmentation). Irregular white patches may occur on any area of the body. Due to the difference between the affected and unaffected areas, this condition is more visible in people with darker skin. The condition can affect anyone.

Diagnosis

Your doctor can usually make the diagnosis of vitiligo during a physical examination. There is no known way to prevent or cure vitiligo. However, several methods, including cosmetics, re-pigmentation using UV light therapy, steroid creams, depigmentation of unaffected skin areas, and skin grafting, can be used to improve the appearance of skin severely affected by vitiligo.

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Vitiligo is also known as 'leucoderma'. In India, it is called 'safed kod' or 'safed dag' and is considered as a social stigma. Vitiligo is appearance of single or multiple depigmented patches on any part of the body. These patches gradually increase in size and cause lot of psychological stress in the patient. It is an auto-immune condition and may have a genetic predisposition. Treatment of vitiligo usually takes a long time. Medical treatment helps arrest the spread of depigmentation and in some cases, may bring back the pigmentation.

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