WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT VITILIGO!

What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a skin condition in which patches of skin loses their color. It is a long-term problem in which growing patches of skin lose their color. It can affect people of any age, gender, or ethnic group.

The patches appear when melanocytes within the skin die off. Melanocytes are the cells responsible for producing the skin pigment, melanin, which gives skin its color and protects it from the sun’s UV rays.The patches often appear equally on both sides of the body, with some measure of symmetry. They often appear on skin that is commonly exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, and hands.Common areas usually affected by vitiligo  include:backs of the handsa,arms,eyes,kneese elbows,feet,mouth,armpit and groin, nose, navel,genitals and rectal area

The total area of skin that can be affected by vitiligo varies between individuals. It can also affect the eyes, the inside of mouth, and the hair. In most cases, the affected areas remain discolored for the rest of the person’s life.The condition is photosensitive. This means that the areas that are affected will be more sensitive to sunlight than those that are not.It is hard to predict whether the patches will spread, and by how much. The spread might take weeks, or the patches might remain stable for months or years.

The lighter patches tend to be more visible in people with dark or tanned skin.The exact causes of vitiligo are unclear. A number of factors may contribute.

These include:

1.An autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system becomes overactive and destroys the melanocytes

2.A genetic oxidative stress imbalance

3.A stressful event

4.Harm to the skin due to a critical sunburn or cut

5.Exposure to some chemicals

6.A neural cause

7.Heredity as it may run in families

8.A virus

Vitiligo is not contagious. One person cannot catch it from another.Itcan appear at any age, but studies suggest that it is more likely to start around the age of 20 years.Globally, it appears to affect between 0.5 and 2 percent of people.

Treatment options for vitiligo

Vitiligo is not painful and does not have any significant health consequences. however, it can have emotional and psychological consequences.There is no known proven ways to prevent the condition but there are some home remedies and medical treatment that can reduce the severity of the condition;

1.Using sunscreen

The AAD recommend using a sunscreen, because the lighter patches of skin are especially sensitive to sunlight and they can burn easily. A dermatologist can advise on a suitable type.

2.Phototherapy with UVB light

Exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) lamps is a common treatment option. Home treatment requires a small lamp and allows for daily use, which is more effective.

If the treatment is done in a clinic, this will need 2 to 3 visits a week and the treatment time will be longer.If there are white spots across large areas of the body, UVB phototherapy may be used. This involves full-body treatment. It is done in a hospital.UVB phototherapy, combined with other treatments, can have a positive effect on vitiligo. However, the result is not totally predictable, and there is still no treatment that will fully re-pigment the skin.

3.Phototherapy with UVA light

A treatment is usually conducted in a health care setting. First, the patient takes a drug that increases the skin’s sensitivity to UV light. Then, in a series of treatments, the affected skin is exposed to high doses of UVA light.Progress will be evident after 6 to 12 months of twice-weekly sessions.

4.Skin camouflage

In cases of mild vitiligo, the patient can camouflage some of the white patches with colored, cosmetic creams and makeup. They should select tones that best match their skin features.Ifcreams and makeup are correctly applied, they can last 12 to 18 hours on the face and up to 96 hours for the rest of the body. Most topical applications are waterproof.

5.Depigmenting

A range of treatments are available for vitiligo, although many people choose not to treat it.When the affected area is widespread, covering 50 percent of the body or more, depigmentation can be an option. This reduces the skin color in unaffected parts to match the whiter areas.Depigmentation is achieved by applying strong topical lotions or ointments, such as monobenzone, mequinol, or hydroquinone.The treatment is permanent, but it can make the skin more fragile. Long exposure to the sun must be avoided. Depigmentation can take 12 to 14 months, depending on factors such as the depth of the original skin tone.

6.Skn grafts

In a skin graft, a surgeon carefully removes healthy patches of pigmented skin and uses them to cover affected areas.This procedure is not very common, because it takes time and can result in scarring in the area where the skin came from and the area where it is placed.Blister grafting involves producing a blister on normal skin using suction. The top of the blister is then removed and placed on an area where pigment has been lost. There is a lower risk of scarring.

7.Tattooing

Surgery is used to implant pigment into the skin. It works best around the lips, especially in people with darker skin.Drawbacks can include difficulty matching the color of skin and the fact that tattoos fade but do not tan. Sometimes, skin damage caused by tattooing can trigger another patch of vitiligo.

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