Vitiligo- Definition, Symptoms and Prevention

Definition

A skin condition known as vitiligo causes white spots to develop on various body areas.

The pigment is present everywhere and can cause these white areas to appear.

It can make hair white, cause some people to lose color in their mouths, or even have an impact on their eyes.

White spots appear on the skin when the pigment-producing cells are damaged.

Vitiligo is not life-threatening or contagious but life-altering

It can lead to social isolation in some cases, low self-esteem in others, or even depression in some cases.

It's crucial to educate yourself about vitiligo and come up with coping mechanisms because some people may live with it forever.

Although vitiligo is more common in persons under the age of forty, half of those who have the condition start to exhibit symptoms before the age of twenty.

All ethnicities and genders are equally susceptible, however those with darker skin tend to notice it more.

Vitiligo affects up to 65 million people worldwide, or 0.5 to 1 percent of the total population.

Epidemiology

Vitiligo is present in 0.4 to 2.0% of the world's population, with some regions having a higher or lower prevalence.

The majority of research show a somewhat higher frequency in females and a 50% childhood onset, however there are exceptions to both of these generalizations.

Atopic dermatitis, halo nevi, and vitiligo and autoimmune disease in the family have all been linked to childhood vitiligo.

Types of vitiligo

Segmental vitiligo (SV) Most times, segmental vitiligo (SV) develops in childhood and only affects one side of the body, typically the neck or one side of the lips.

Over half also get patches of white hair at the same time that it spreads quite fast at first, then slowly and steadily after a year or two.

Rarely is SV linked to autoimmune illness.

Non-segmental vitiligo (NSV)  is an autoimmune condition that often starts on the hands, wrists, area around the eyes or lips, or on the feet before spreading to the neck, chest, knees, and legs.

NSV is seen as progressive, however it also experiences spreading and stabilization cycles.

Except for segmental vitiligo, NSV encompasses all forms of vitiligo.

Generalized:

Widely distributed and essentially symmetrical

Acrofacial or Acral: parts of the body that are depigmented and located out from the center, such as the face, head, hands, and feet

Focal: one or more concentrated areas of pigment loss

Mucosal: mucous membranes are affected

Universalis: complete or nearly complete depigmentation

Segmental vitiligo first manifests as mixed vitiligo (MV), which eventually develops into non-segmental vitiligo.

Risk factors of Vitiligo

    Age below 30 years

    FHx of vitiligo

    Autoimmune disease

    Chemical contact.

Causes

It's uncertain what causes vitiligo exactly. Many factors could play a role.

These consist of:

An autoimmune condition where the melanocytes are destroyed by an overactive immune system

A genetic oxidative stress imbalance

Stressful situation

Skin damage brought on by a severe sunburn or cut

Being exposed to certain chemicals

 A neural cause

Heredity, as it may run in families

A virus

Vitiligo is not contagious. One person cannot catch it from another.

Although it can start at any age, research indicates that it is most likely to begin around the age of 20.

Signs and Symptoms

The primary symptom of vitiligo are white patches on the skin.

In locations where the skin is exposed to the sun, these patches are more frequent.

    The armpits and groin (where the leg meets the body)

    Around the mouth

    Eyes

    Nostrils

    Navel

    Genitals

    Rectal areas.

People with vitiligo often have hair that turns gray early. Those with dark skin may notice a loss of color inside their mouths.

Complications of Vitiligo

Potential complications include an increased risk of:

    Psychological or social issues

    Sunburn

    Skin cancer

    Iritis and other problems related to the eyes

    Hearing loss

    Treatment side effects such as itching.

Diagnostic procedures

Vitiligo will be identified by the physician using a physical examination, tests, a family and medical history review, and more.

The doctor could inquire about things like:

    Do you have family members with vitiligo?

    Do you or family members have any autoimmune diseases?

    Did you have rash, sunburn, or other skin problem before the white patches appeared?

    Did you have some type of stress or physical illness?

    Did your hair turn gray before age 35?

    Are you sensitive to the sun?   

To rule out any medical issues, the doctor will perform a physical examination.

Tests could consist of:

Taking a tiny sample of the afflicted skin (biopsy) for analysis

A blood test

An eye test.

Treatment and medications

Vitiligo has no known cure, thus the major objective of treatment is to make the skin's discoloration look better.

Cosmetics are the safest form of treatment.

Dryness, itching, and burning of the skin, as well as more severe side effects, can be brought on by medication, light therapy, and surgery.

Cosmetics: Minor occurrences of vitiligo can be concealed by using skin tanners or makeup on the affected areas.

Cosmetics must be applied frequently, although they are typically risk-free and without negative effects.

Medication: Corticosteroid creams or other topical immune system or inflammation-controlling medications may aid in skin repigmentation.

To get better effects, combine these creams with ultraviolet light.

These treatments are typically used to tiny portions of the face and neck due to negative side effects.

People with widespread vitiligo may want to use topical lotions that gradually lighten the skin to eliminate pigment from the remaining unaffected areas.

Light therapy: By inducing the skin's natural healing process, repeated sessions of light therapy can help afflicted skin on the face, trunk, and limbs regain part of its color.

In photochemotherapy, ultraviolet A (UVA) or ultraviolet B (UVB) light and a medication that increases skin sensitivity to UV light are both employed.

As an alternative, only usage of narrow band UVB light is possible.

Surgery: When cosmetic procedures, medications, or light therapy do not produce the desired results, surgical solutions are available.

By taking the pigmented skin from unaffected places and affixing it to small patches of discolored skin, skin and blister grafting techniques can be used.

Scarring and textural changes to the treated areas are potential side effects of these procedures.

Tattooing is another way to apply the pigment to the discolored skin.

All surgical procedures carry the chance of causing pigment loss in nearby skin.

Prevention of Vitiligo

Most cases of vitiligo cannot be prevented. Reduced exposure to established triggers, such as stress, chemicals, and sunlight, can help stop pigment loss in newly exposed body parts.

Home Treatments that Work for Vitiligo

Vitiligo can be treated with a variety of methods, such as creams, oral medications, skin grafts, ultraviolet therapy, etc.

These treatments, however, entirely depend on the health and reaction of the skin cells.

There could be hazards or adverse effects from these therapies.

Because of this, employing natural home treatments is one of the best ways to treat vitiligo or leucoderma.

Here are a few popular and efficient home treatments for vitiligo that work without causing any negative side effects:

Mustard oil and turmeric paste

Turmeric has several health advantages and can be used as a natural treatment for vitiligo.

Turmeric can be used to lessen the affects of Vitiligo.

Make a thick paste by combining one tablespoon of turmeric powder with two tablespoons of mustard oil.

The affected region should be treated with this paste, left on for at least 15 minutes, and then washed off.

Apply this paste twice daily for best results.

Vitiligo Diseases Treated With Honey and Margosa Leaves

Another effective home remedy for vitiligo therapy uses margosa leaves and honey, which can work wonders in the treatment of this skin condition.

Mix some crushed margosa leaves and one tablespoon of honey juice thoroughly.

Utilize this remedy to get rid of Vitiligo.

Using Bakuchi Paste to Treat Vitiligo

One needs vinegar and bakuchi (Psoralea carylifolia) to make bakuchi paste.

Apply the thick paste you form by thoroughly combining them over the white spots and blotches.

This is also among the most widely used natural home treatments for Vitiligo.

Ginger Juice for Vitiligo Disease Treatment

Ginger has been used as the finest natural cure for vitiligo and other skin conditions since ancient times.

Vitiligo is one such condition.

White patches can be effectively treated with ginger.

Take a slice of ginger and combine it with water to create a thin liquid to use as this home treatment.

With the aid of a strainer, transfer this juice into a cup.

Two times a day, consume this juice to treat Vitiligo.

Pepper and Ghee Remedies

This is another another really efficient home cure for Vitiligo.

Heat 10 peppercorns in 10 grams of ghee for this treatment.

Take off the pepper, then combine this ghee with regular ghee.

This ghee can be used to prepare common foods.

Regular use of this ghee will cleanse the blood and strengthen defenses.

Conclusion

Other natural therapies, such as neem paste, tamarind seed paste, pomegranate powder, goosefoot vegetable juice, black gram paste, moringa oil,etc, are also available to cure the vitiligo condition.

But it's always a good idea to talk to a doctor before choosing one of these treatments.

Since each patient's condition may be different, it is always a good idea to consult a doctor.

You can always see a specialist if you have a question or worry to receive the answers you need.