Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder, in which special cells melanocytes stop producing pigmentary cells. These pigmentary cells are the real determents of skin color. Through depigmentation, skin cells become dehydrated and destroyed. As a result, whitish spots or patches are appeared on skin. The appearance of white patches in early stage is in small amount but gradually it can increases in larger amounts and can be spread on all most all body parts. These white patches also affect the mucous membrane (tissues that line the inside of the mouth) and retina (inner layer) of eyes. Vitiligo also affects the affected area hairs, and turns in to white.
The cause of vitiligo is yet unknown, as describe above that white patches cause is depigmentation condition of skin. But in respect to depigmentation, many other factors are also associated with the disease. Which includes, heredity, stress, immune system disorder (auto-immune system), genetic or environmental factors, deficit of nutritional factors, sun burn or sun exposure etc. it has been observed that vitiligo is commonly appear on those body areas, that are exposed to sun. Such body parts are include hands, face, arms, feet’s, lips etc. The affected people also experience skin rashes after the disease.
The nature and route of the disease is yet not predictable, in many people white patches disappear or stop spreading without any treatment through naturally mode, but in many cases it spreads so rapidly, that it covers all body areas in shorter span.
About 0.5 to 1 percent of the world’s population has been suffering from vitiligo. In USA, one to two million people has indulged in this skin disorder. Vitiligo can be appeared in both genders, male & female, of any age, during any stage of life. Many people get this disease before the age of 20 or after the age of 40.
Vitiligo seems to be most common in people who have auto-immune disorder, also including overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), Adrenocortical deficiency, (a condition in which adrenal gland does not produce hormone known as corticosteroid) diabetes, alopecia areata (loss of hairs in patches) or due to the lacking of vitamin B12 or low level of blood cells (pernicious anemia).
Many people are clear from any particular disorder, which leads a person toward vitiligo. But so far they get indulge with the disease. It can be happen through the heredity. If vitiligo disease is running in families, 10 to 20% chances are that a person can be getting the disease from his family, but it is not necessary.
Although the vitiligo is incurable disease, but many treatments are invented in order to re-produce pigmentary cells in skin. These treatments includes,
- Psychotherapy (for patient or family to provide awareness about the disease)
- Photochemotherapy or Light therapy (conducting through UVB or UVA rays)
- Homeopathic treatment (with the help of natural resources)
- Oral psoralen therapy
- Topical psoralen therapy (psoralen ingredient containing creams or lotions)
- Ayurvedic treatment (emphasis on taking food along with medicine)
- UVB and psoralen treatment
- Topical Oxsoralen or spot treatment
- Autologous skin grafts (Transplantation) - A surgical treatment (removal & transfer of pigment
producing cells from one body part to another)
Even under the most favorable conditions, the low progress of treatments is seen in the first few months, & all the treatments takes two to three years to achieve the target. |