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.
Vitiligo is usually characterized by
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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