What is it?
Vitiligo is a disorder which leads to white patches of skin appearing on different parts of the body. This mainly happens because of the cells(melanocytes) that make pigment (color) in the skin get destroyed. This disorder can also affect the mucous membranes which are present inside the mouth and nose and the eye.
Causes of Vitiligo
The causes of the diseases are unknown and may be classified under autoimmune diseases. In vitiligo, the immune system might destroy the melanocytes in the skin. Some of the researchers have said that melanocytes destroy themselves or some other say that sunburn or emotional stress is the reason for the same. Other possible reasons could be oxidative stress, neural or viral diseases.
Who can get affected by Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is mostly affected by people who are in their 20’s. But, it can happen in any age. This disorder can sadly, happen to anybody and everybody. It affects all the races, both the sexes and can happen to the people of all the age groups. However, Vitiligo is noticed in people with dark skin. It has been seen that people having certain autoimmune diseases are more likely to get Vitiligo than the people who don’t have any autoimmune diseases. Vitiligo can also be genetic. Children whose parents have the disorder are more likely to have the same.
Symptoms of Vitiligo
White patches on the skin are main signs of Vitiligo. These patches are more observed on those areas where the skin is exposed to the sun. Such patchy skin is commonly seen on the hands, feet, arms, face, lips, Eyes, Nostrils, Navel and Genitals. People suffering from Vitiligo may have seen that their hair turns gray early. Another major symptom is that people with dark skin may notice a loss of color inside their mouths.
How is the disorder diagnosed?
The doctor would use your medical history as well as your family history. Along with his he or she would also physically examine you and carry out a certain test to diagnose whether you’ve Vitiligo or not. Some of the commonly asked questions are:
- Do you have family members with vitiligo?
- Do you have family members with vitiligo?
- Did you have a rash, sunburn, or other skin problem before the white patches appeared?
- Is your skin sensitive towards the sun?
Furthermore, the test would include:
- Taking a small sample of the affected skin to be examined
- Blood tests
- An eye examination
London Dermatology is one of best skin clinic London where you can get yourself examined that whether you’ve Vitiligo or not.
How to treat Vitiligo?
- The choice of the treatment depends upon
- What sort of treatment suits the person
- The number of patches and how widely spread they’re
Some treatments may not be right for everyone. Many treatments can also have side effects. Along with this, treatments can also take a long time and sometimes don’t even work properly. As of now, people who’re suffering from Vitiligo can take the advantage of medical, surgical, and other treatments. However, most of the treatments concentrate on restoring color to the white patches of skin.
Medical treatments:-
- Creams to be applied on the skin
- Medicines to be taken orally
- Treatments using medicine plus ultraviolet A rays
- Removing the colors from the surrounding areas so they match with the white patches
Surgical treatments:-
Skin grafting from a person’s own tissue. The skin from one area is taken and is attached to the another area.
Vitiligo can cause a lot of stress in your life. Find a doctor you can provide the exact treatment for it along with giving you the required emotional support.