What Is Vitiligo?

What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a disorder in which white patches of skin on different parts of the body. This is because the cells that produce the pigment (color) in the skin are destroyed. These cells are called melanocytes (Ma-LAN-o-sites). Vitiligo can also affect the mucous membranes (eg, tissue inside the mouth and nose) and the eye.

What causes vitiligo?

The cause is unknown. Vitiligo may be an autoimmune disease. These diseases occur when the immune system accidentally attacks part of their own body. In vitiligo, the immune system can destroy the melanocytes of the skin. It is also possible that one or more genes can make a person more susceptible to disease.

Some researchers believe that melanocytes destroy themselves. Others think that a single event, such as sunburn or emotional distress can cause vitiligo. But these facts have not been proven to cause vitiligo.

Who is affected by vitiligo?

Many people develop in the twenties, but can occur at any age. The disorder affects all races and both sexes equally, however, it is more noticeable in people with darker skin.

People with certain autoimmune diseases (such as hyperthyroidism) are more likely to have vitiligo than people who do not have autoimmune diseases. Scientists do not know why vitiligo is related to these diseases. However, most people with vitiligo do not have another autoimmune disease.

Vitiligo can also be hereditary. Children whose parents have the disorder are more likely to develop vitiligo. However, most children will not have vitiligo, even if one parent has.

What are the symptoms of vitiligo?

White spots on the skin are the main sign of vitiligo. These patches are most common in areas where the skin is exposed to sunlight. Patches can be on the hands, feet, arms, face and lips. Other common areas for white spots are:

Armpits and groin (where the leg joins the body)
Around the mouth
The eyes
nostrils
belly button
genitals
Rectal areas.
People with vitiligo often have hair that turns gray early. People with dark skin may notice a loss of color inside the mouth.

Will the white spots spread?

There is no way to know if vitiligo will spread. For some people, white spots do not spread. But often the white patches spread to other parts of the body. For some people, vitiligo will spread slowly, for many years. For other people, the diffusion occurs quickly. Some people have reported more white patches after physical or emotional stress.

How is vitiligo diagnosed?

The doctor will use a family and medical history, physical examination and tests to diagnose vitiligo. The doctor may ask questions such as:

Do you have relatives with vitiligo?
Do you or your family members have autoimmune diseases?
Have you ever had a rash, sunburn or other skin problem before the white spots appeared?
Have you had any kind of stress or physical illness?
Does your hair turn gray before 36?
Is it sensitive to the sun?
The doctor will do a physical exam to rule out other medical problems.

Tests may include:

Take a small sample of the affected skin to examine
Blood tests
An examination of the eyes.
How is vitiligo treated?

Treatment can help make the skin more even. The choice of treatment depends on:

The number of white spots
How often do patches
The treatment the person prefers to use.
Some treatments are not suitable for everyone. Many treatments can have undesirable side effects. Treatments can take a lot of time, and sometimes they do not work.

Current treatment options for vitiligo include medical, surgical and others. Most treatments aim to restore the color of white patches of skin.

Surgical treatments include:

Skin grafts from a person's tissue. The doctor takes the skin from one area of ​​a patient's body and joins another area. This is sometimes used for people with small patches of vitiligo.
Tattoo small areas of the skin.
Other treatments:

Solar screens
Cosmetics, such as make-up or dye, to cover white spots
Advice and support.
What can people do to deal with vitiligo?

When you have vitiligo, it can be annoying or depressed by the change in your appearance. There are several things you can do to deal with the disease:

Find a doctor who knows how to treat vitiligo. The doctor should also be a good listener and be able to provide emotional support.
More information about the treatment and disorder options. This can help you make decisions about your treatment.
Talk to other people who have vitiligo. A vitiligo group can help you find a support group (see local programming). Family and friends are another source of support.
Some people with vitiligo have found that cosmetics that cover white patches improve their appearance and help them to feel better about themselves. A person may have to try out various cosmetic brands he hides before finding the product that works best.

What research is being done on vitiligo?

Scientists have acquired a better understanding of vitiligo in recent years, especially through genetic research.