Vitiligo Symptoms

Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder that causes depigmentation of the skin, resulting in white patches. This condition is caused by the death or inefficiency of melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for skin pigmentation. It is these cells that determine the color of the eyes, hair and skin of a person. This condition is classified into two main types - segmental and non-segmental. The non-segmental type shows some symmetry, as similar patches are seen on both hands or both legs. It is not constrained to particular areas, but can appear on any body part. This type can affect large areas and develop at any age. The segmental vitiligo is found to be affecting those areas, which are associated with the dorsal roots from the spine. As compared to the former type of vitiligo, segmental type of vitiligo spreads very fast and is more prevalent in teenagers. If vitiligo has covered large portions of the skin with little bit of pigmented skin, the condition is termed as vitiligo universalis. Vitiligo is a condition, that can affect people, irrespective of age, sex and race. However, this skin disorder is more noticeable in people with darker skin, as compared to white people. Studies show that around one percent of the world population is affected by this condition. Scroll down for more information about vitiligo symptoms and treatment.

Vitiligo Symptoms and Causes

As mentioned above, one of the characteristic symptoms of vitiligo is milky white patches on skin, caused by depigmentation. It has been observed that vitiligo is commonly seen on those areas of the skin, which are sun-exposed. It includes, hands, arms, feet, face, lips, etc. Other susceptible areas are the armpits, groin, genitals, rectum, areas around the nostrils, eyes, navel, etc. The hair in the affected skin may also turn white or gray. In some people, vitiligo affects the scalp too. In such cases, bald patches with depigmentation may occur. The affected people may also experience skin rash after sun exposure. The nature and course of vitiligo is not predictable. While, in some people, the patches appear and stop spreading without any treatment, in some others it spreads so rapidly, that it covers large areas in a very short span. Some of the affected people experience very slow rate of spreading of the disease. Till date, the exact cause for vitiligo has not been identified. It is believed that this condition may be caused by a combination of various factors, like, immune system disorders, genetic and environmental factors. Vitiligo is also associated with thyroid problems as many patients have both these conditions. Heredity is found to be one of the common vitiligo causes, but there are many affected people, who do not have a family history of this disease. So, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest a single cause for vitiligo.

Vitiligo Treatment

There is no cure for vitiligo disease and the treatment for this condition is mainly aimed at controlling the symptoms and the spread of the disease. The disease is diagnosed with the help of various factors, like the symptoms, family history and other health conditions of the affected person. The doctor may also go for the biopsy of the affected skin. Another diagnostic tool used for the diagnosis of vitiligo is Wood's lamp, which emits a special light, under which the skin is examined. There are various treatment options as far as vitiligo is concerned. It includes medications, surgery or other adjunctive therapies. It is more or less, like a trial and error method to find out the most effective method of treatment for a particular patient. Mild cases of vitiligo are treated with corticosteroids, which aids in repigmentation of the affected area. This treatment is found to be effective in the early stages of the disease. Another option is topical immunomodulators, which are also found to relatively free of side effects and effective in mild cases of vitiligo. Another effective method is photo-therapy, which involves exposure of the affected parts to light rays of specific wavelength. There are many other methods, like, photo chemotherapy, depigmentation, etc. If all these non-invasive methods fail, then surgical procedures, like, autologous skin grafts, blister grafting, etc. are used to treat vitiligo. Research is underway for more effective treatment methods for this skin disorder.

Now, you know more about vitiligo symptoms, causes and treatment. It is not a life-threatening condition, but can affect the person mentally, as people start discriminating against the patient due to the patches on the skin. However, early treatment is very important to control this condition. So, in case of any such symptom, consult a doctor at the earliest to rule out the possibility of this condition.