Our skin gets its color from pigments. They are colored pigments. People with dark skin have more of these pigments and those with lighter skin have less of them. This pigment is known as melanin. The main function of melanin is to protect the body from sunrays. That is why, we get tanned when we expose ourselves to sun. Tanning means more production of melanin. Cells known as melanocytes in the skin produce melanin.
If for any reason, the skin begins losing melanin from a patch on the body, light skin develops on that place. This is called Vitiligo. There is no specific cause known for vitiligo except for the thought that the body destroys the melanin itself. That is why this is called an autoimmune disease (a disease where the body attacks itself). Vitiligo can develop on the whole body, or it can stop after creating few patches. Anybody can get it on any part of the body. There is no perfect cure for it. It can be treated in various ways, but no satisfactory treatment is available. There is no prevention for vitiligo and no cure. Vitiligo also exposes skin to sun rays and that is dangerous. Let us find out more about it.
How Does Vitiligo Develop And Progress?
Vitiligo can develop on any part of the body, at any age and in anyone. Though it is believed that exposed parts of body have higher chances of developing Vitiligo, it can appear anywhere. Color of skin does not affect the probability of getting vitiligo. Similarly, it can strike both the sexes and at any age. It is estimated that in about one-fifth of the cases, other family members may also have vitiligo. As vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder, its patients are monitored for other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disorders, alopecia aerta, etc. You should talk to your doctor about this in detail.
Vitiligo begins with a small area of lighter color, which slowly turns to a white patch. Many patches can also develop at the same time. After some time, the discoloration may stop and then restart after some time. Some people may lose all the skin pigment. The hair also loses color at the site of vitiligo. The cause of vitiligo is not known, but it is thought that either the body destroys the melanin or it destroys itself. But the result is loss of pigment that protects body against sun damage.
This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.
Patches Of White Skin
Steroid Creams:
Your doctor may prescribe use of steroid creams in the early stage of vitiligo. The steroid thins the skin and also cannot be used for a long time. Immuno-modulators may also be used in place of steroids.
PUVA:
Another common treatment is PUVA. In PUVA a drug called psoralen is either applied or given orally to the patient. This drug makes the skin very sensitive to UV radiation. The affected skin is then exposed to UV light. This may help re-pigmentation of the affected site. This treatment may be given twice a week for five minutes each and may continue for up to two years. Your doctor will decide about that. There is no guarantee that the regenerated pigment will not be lost again.
UVB:
The latest narrow band UVB therapy can also be used, but it is still not commonly available. There is no guarantee that the regenerated pigment will not be lost again.
Surgical Grafting:
Surgical graft of pigment carrying skin may be made on the vitiligo-affected skin. Ask your doctor about it.
De-pigmentation:
If nothing seems to work and the patient has already developed vitiligo on a very large surface, some doctors advise de-pigmentation of the remaining normal skin to make the color even.
Hiding Vitiligo With Cosmetics:
There are many cosmetic brands available that can be used to hide the vitiligo. You need to talk to your doctor and try few and find out which suits you best. Dihydroxyacetone containing sunless tan can be used by light skinned people to get even color. You need to try out few products and decide what suits you most.
The vitiligo patient may suffer from psychological distress because of looks. One should accept one's condition if nothing can be done and continue with work and life normally. Vitiligo patients are healthy human beings who have only lost some color from their skin. They must take precaution against the sun and save their skin from sun damage and possible skin cancer.
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