| Vitiligo – What is it?
Basically, vitiligo is a condition of hypo pigmentation of the skin in which the skin gets discolored in some regions because of the lack of melanin pigment. Melanin is the pigment that imparts specific skin color. When this pigment is missing, the skin loses its color and can become almost white. This condition is also known as leukoderma.
Vitiligo is a very common problem, affecting about 1 to 2% of the people from around the world. The problem occurs in people of all races and geographical regions. However, people who have darker skin show this problem more prominently because the discolored patches appear in contrast to their original skin color. However, even white people have this condition, only the patches don’t appear so prominent.
This is one of the incurable conditions present in the world today. But, respite is in the fact that this condition is not life threatening; actually, vitiligo is not harmful in any way to the person who has it. People who are looking for treatment from this condition are actually looking at making their appearance more ‘normal’.
Vitiligo – Common Symptoms
The following are some common symptoms of the condition of vitiligo:-
- Discolored patches make an unexplained appearance on different areas of the skin. In some cases, the discoloration can be total; i.e. the patches can become totally white. For reasons not clearly understood yet, the patches are more prominent in the areas that are exposed to the sun, such as the hands, feet and face.
- The hypopigmentation can carry on to other parts of the body too. The hair can become white. In some cases, there can be discoloration of the eyelashes and other hair on the body also.
- Insides of the mouth can become white.
- A few people lose color even in their retina, and this could affect vision in a small portion of these people.
There is no set age for leukoderma to begin appearing in a person. However, early indications are known to appear in some people even when they are as young as 10 years. The patches become whiter and more widespread in area as the people grow older.
Vitiligo – Risk Factors
Experts have still not clearly understood why vitiligo happens. Since it happens in people of all races, geographical areas, genders, ages, etc., there are no particular trends associated with this condition. However, there is definitely a genetic propensity. Children can acquire this condition from their parents, but as in other hereditary ailments, not all children of at least one parent having vitiligo will get the condition themselves.
Vitiligo – Treatment
Medical science has not been able to find an effective foolproof cure for vitiligo yet. So far, people who have this condition live with it and make it a part and parcel of their lives. Even cosmetics cannot effectively hide the patches of vitiligo, so there are actually no treatment or even camouflaging methods available for the condition. However, alternative medicine, especially herbal medicines exist for this condition, but their effectiveness is not proven medically.
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