What Are The Characteristics Of Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a skin disease associated with the lack of melanin in the skin. This results in irregular-shaped lighter patches that appear on different body parts, which can be distressing for those who have this condition. Vitiligo is a condition that is not life-threatening and cannot spread from person to person. However, several possible symptoms can be distressing for the individual experiencing them. Vitiligo may affect the appearance of other parts of the body as well as the skin itself. In some cases, hair loss occurs around the patchy areas that have developed due to vitiligo. Some sufferers also experience pain or itching associated with these patches, but this is relatively rare, at least initially.

The characteristics of Vitiligo are as follows: 

Vitiligo is usually characterized by

1. White patches on the skin:

The patches are white (or patchy colorless). These can appear on parts of the body where there is standard skin color. The most common places that vitiligo appears are on the hands, chest, neck, face, elbows, and knees. However, it may also occur elsewhere in the body.

2. Vitiligo is associated with thyroid disease: 

About 20% of people with vitiligo have an overactive or under-active thyroid gland which means they produce either too much or too little thyroid hormone. It affects women more than men and most commonly occurs between 20 – 40 years old.

3. It is associated with autoimmune problems:

Vitiligo tends to run in families, and people with vitiligo are more likely than average to have other autoimmune diseases. It is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks melanocytes, which produce pigment or color in the skin. Researchers believe that damage occurs because the cells release

4. Skin Patch enlarges over time:

Vitiligo patches enlarge and spread with time. Sometimes these changes are because other areas also start to lose their color, which is referred to as repigmentation. If this happens, it is often seen as a return of your original skin color, but you should discuss this with your doctor if it concerns you or causes distress.

5. It can affect mucous membranes: 

Mucous membranes are moist tissues line-specific organs such as the nose, mouth, throat, and genitals. The white patches caused by vitiligo may appear on them too.

6. Gradual loss of pigment in affected areas: As these spots are more exposed to sun rays, there is gradual loss of pigment (melanin), resulting in widening patch size with time due to progressive depigmentation or loss of color in that area).
7. Patches become visible on exposure to Sunlight: These patches are hardly visible at the initial stage, but they become prominent on exposure to Sunlight.

What causes vitiligo?

1. Autoimmune disorder:

Vitiligo tends to run in families, and people with vitiligo are more likely than average to have other autoimmune diseases. It is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks melanocytes, which produce pigment or color in the skin. Researchers believe that damage occurs because the cells release

2. Exposure to chemicals: 

Your doctor may also ask you questions about your lifestyle. Several factors, such as exposure to certain chemicals, can trigger vitiligo; for example, contact with nickel and rubber chemicals causes patchy loss of pigment on fingers and underneath rings. Things like this may not cause vitiligo but could be a factor that worsens it if you already have it.

3. Stress:

Studies show that stress may play a role in triggering vitiligo. For example, sudden bereavement or severe emotional trauma can cause this condition to develop in people with a prior family history of the disorder.

4. Genetic susceptibility:

People with genetic problems that cause white or patchy skin are more prone to get vitiligo than those who do not have this tendency already programmed within their genes. Most people who suffer from vitiligo usually inherit it from one of their parents. People who don’t inherit it typically get it because of severe skin trauma or chronic sun damage.

What can I do to prevent vitiligo?

1. Avoid Sunlight:

The most important factor in the development of vitiligo is your exposure to Sunlight. The more direct, intense, and lengthy sun exposure, the faster the spots will appear and spread on your skin. This is why it’s best to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 every day when going outdoors, even in winter or when it’s cloudy. A combination product that includes a moisturizer can help hydrate dry skin, which may otherwise crack and allow pigment-destroying ultraviolet rays to enter. Also, avoid tanning salons as they increase melanocyte destruction caused by ultraviolet light.

2. Avoid Stress:

Stress may play a role in triggering vitiligo. For example, sudden bereavement or severe emotional trauma can cause this condition to develop in people with a prior family history of the disorder.

3. Avoid Chemicals:

Your doctor may also ask you questions about your lifestyle as several factors, such as exposure to certain chemicals, can trigger vitiligo. For example, contact with nickel and rubber chemicals causes patchy loss of pigment on fingers and underneath rings. Things like this may not cause vitiligo but could be a factor that worsens it if you already have it.

4. Include Carrots & Spinach in Your Diet:

Eating a healthy diet is vital for everyone, but it is crucial if you have vitiligo. Your mother’s food choices while pregnant and breastfeeding can even affect your skin color during puberty. Some foods that may prevent or slow down the development of vitiligo include carrots, dark green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, collard greens and kale, nuts, and fatty fish.

5. Take Supplements:

Taking supplements like vitamins C and E together with zinc can help inhibit pigment loss. Take biotin every day to promote repigmentation in people with stable vitiligo; also, consult your dermatologist before taking any vitamin supplements. Make sure you take a vitamin supplement with all the micronutrients your body needs, including vitamins B, C, and E.

6. Lifestyle changes:

Lifestyle changes like avoiding stress and anxiety also help in the process. Make sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep every night so your body can repair itself from any damage caused by stress/anxiety. Before going to bed, do some relaxation exercises such as meditation or deep breathing so that when you wake up, you feel rested and prepared to face another day.

7. Make sure you drink at least eight glasses of water a day:

The human body contains more than 60% water. Most bodily functions, including tissue repair, depend on adequate hydration. If you don’t hydrate yourself properly with enough fresh, clean water (at least eight glasses a day), then your body won’t be able to flush out toxins as effectively as it should. Not drinking enough water increases toxic build-up in the tissues, leading to accelerated skin damage and faster onset of vitiligo symptoms like depigmentation and spotting.

What are the treatments for vitiligo?

1. Topical Creams:

The most common treatment for vitiligo is a topical cream, which can be applied at home daily or sometimes more frequently. The medicine may contain corticosteroids to alter the immune response in your skin and help reduce inflammation or calcineurin inhibitors that block pigment cells from responding to the activation signals sent by your immune system. These medications can help repigment the skin affected by vitiligo.

2. Light Therapy:

Also known as phototherapy, light therapy involves exposing your skin to ultraviolet (UV) light from lamps or Sunlight. Generally speaking, more sessions equate to better results and will be required as you get older to maintain repigmentation. But some people may not need any touch-up sessions at all, even with age – UV exposure is essential for forcing the pigment cells in the affected area to retain melanin pigments and produce color again.

3. Topical Psoralen:

Topical psoralen is a cream that makes your body more sensitive to UV rays and can be used along with natural or artificial light to treat vitiligo. Psoralen is a medication that enhances the effects of light therapy and can be applied to your skin one hour before UV exposure or combined with ultraviolet A (UVA) or ultraviolet B (UVB) soft treatments.

4. Microneedling Therapy:

Also known as percutaneous collagen induction, microneedling therapy uses fine needles to puncture the skin repeatedly at high speed. It creates tiny wounds and prompts the body to produce new collagen and elastin, which reduces the appearance of old stretch marks and scars and helps reduce pigment loss. This treatment option speeds up natural repigmenting processes while lessening inflammation and promoting good circulation for faster tissue repair. However, you should know that there is a risk for scarring with this treatment, and vitiligo can recur.

5. Medical Tattooing:

This treatment option involves tattooing the pigment cells onto your skin to mask depigmented areas caused by vitiligo. However, this procedure has limitations since tattooed regions are thinner than surrounding normal skin and may not be suitable to color more extensively affected skin tones that are more difficult to match. The process also involves pain every time it’s done because of the high number of needle pricks, so it should only be used when other options fail or aren’t available.

What are the complications of vitiligo? 

Vitiligo can cause psychological distress in people who have noticeable white patches on their skin. The condition may also negatively affect a person’s social life and cause anxiety disorders, depression, low self-esteem, or more severe infections associated with stress like thyroid disease or adrenal imbalances.

How is vitiligo diagnosed?

Your doctor will usually diagnose vitiligo by examining your skin and may order a blood test to check for any underlying autoimmune diseases. A review of your medical history is also necessary because the risk of developing vitiligo increases if you have other autoimmune problems or a family history of skin conditions.

What are some alternative treatments for vitiligo?

Homeopathic treatment is one of the best treatments for vitiligo. Vitiligo is a disease of the reproductive system and thymus gland. If these two organs are not efficient or strong, it can cause skin problems, including vitiligo. Homeopathy has been widely accepted as an effective method of treating skin diseases. Homeopathic remedies have no side effects on normal healthy cells since they cure by stimulating the body’s natural defense system to remove toxic substances from the blood.

How does homeopathy treat vitiligo?

• Homeopathic treatment for vitiligo aims to balance, strengthen, and stimulate your immune system to prevent future outbreaks of autoimmune conditions like vitiligo. Homeopathic treatment for vitiligo also improves blood and lymph circulation, often impaired in people who have vitiligo.
• Homeopathic treatment for vitiligo also helps to treat associated problems like anxiety, depression, and stress.
• Homeopathic treatment for vitiligo has no side effects and improves skin color by stimulating melanin production in skin cells.
• Homeopathy doctors provide customized treatment to patients suffering from vitiligo. They use remedies that are best suited for each patient based on their physical and mental symptoms.
• The goals of homeopathic treatment are to prevent a recurrence, improve skin color, pigment production in the body, gradually remove patches of white skin cells, and even out your skin tone.
• Homeopathy doctors use different combinations of remedies based on the severity of vitiligo in patients. Depending on how severe your condition is, they may use 6X potency or 12X potency, or 30X potency, depending on how painful your condition is.
• You can expect a noticeable improvement in your overall health and well-being within a few weeks after starting homeopathic treatment for vitiligo.

Homeopathy doctors also recommend dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle modifications along with homeopathy treatment for better results. If you are interested in homeopathic vitiligo treatment, you can visit a registered homeopathy doctor. You can book an appointment now through OHO Homeopathy.