What is Vitiligo?

This is normally pronounced as ‘Vi-til-EYE-go’. Vitiligo is caused by the reduction or lack of a pigment called melanin in the skin. Melanin is produced by skin cells called melanocytes, and it gives your skin its colour. In vitiligo, the melanocytes die and therefore, there are not enough working melanocytes to produce enough melanin in your skin. This causes white patches to develop on your skin or hair.

Vitiligo can affect any part of the body but the parts normally affected are as below:

• Mouth and eyes
• Fingers and wrists
• Armpits
• Hair
• groin
• genitals
• inside your mouth and/or nose

Some few FACTS about vitiligo are;

• Vitiligo can affect people of any age, race and gender.
• There is currently no known cure.
• The exact cause is also not known. Some researchers however believe it is an autoimmune disorder(the patient immune system becomes overactive and destroys the melanocytes), some think it’s due to a virus and others hereditary family link.
• You cannot catch Vitiligo from another person.
• Exposure to UVA and UVB light can help some individuals with the condition.
• If more than 50% of the skin is affected, depigmentation(like bleaching the remaining unaffected area) might be an option.
• Though the exact age of manifestation is not yet established, some studies have concluded that a larger percentage of cases seem to start around the age of 20.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Vitiligo starts as a simple spot, a little paler than the rest of the skin. Gradually, with time, this spot will become much paler and until it turns white.

The shapes of these patches are completely irregular, and, at times, the edges can become a little itchy due to being inflamed or swollen. Other than that, vitiligo is a silent condition with minimal discomfort, irritation, soreness or dryness on the skin.

Vitiligo is photo sensitive; persons affected should avoid exposing the skin to direct sunlight for a prolonged period.