Vitiligo disease Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

vitiligo treatment

Vitiligo is an unusual skin condition that causes people to lose their natural color and turn white, resulting in white spots or patches. But the important question is, can vitiligo spread? This condition can affect people of any age and is not contagious. It begins with the hand and gradually spreads to the rest of your body, affecting not only your confidence and self-esteem.

Melanocytes are destroyed by your immune system, which results in the loss of skin color. Melanocytes produce the melanin that gives your skin its color. Many people seek assistance and therapy because the condition negatively impacts their self-esteem and confidence. Only 1% of people worldwide suffer from this illness. Although treatment is not required, it is an option if the skin tone is undesirable.

Vitiligo Disease Symptoms & Causes

Vitiligo disease symptoms and signs go like this:  

  • Mucous membranes lose their color. The white patches appear lighter than your skin tone. 
  • The hair on your skin also turns grey and white. 
  • In some cases, people may also experience itchy skin before depigmentation starts.
  • The symptoms will appear on the hands, feet, arms, and face. 

The most common cause of vitiligo is a lack of pigmentation in the skin. However, the reason why it happens is yet to be known. But some common things that affect vitiligo are: 

Autoimmune Condition: Any autoimmune illness patient may be the source of the issue because in these cases, the immune system misinterprets healthy cells, or melanocytes, as foreign invaders like germs that could damage your body. After that, the antibodies that will kill your melanocytes are developed.

Genetics: Genetics may be the root of the issue. You could have the illness if someone in your family already has it.

Triggering Event: Whenever there is a trigger event on the skin, such as a sunburn, chemical contact, stress, or any type of skin trauma.

Stress: Melanocyte cells produce less pigment when under emotional or physical stress, which leads to vitiligo.

Vitiligo Types

vitiligo disease symptoms

There are six types of the disease which are listed below, 

Generalized: This is the most prevalent kind of vitiligo, which develops symmetrically on both sides of the body at any location. 

Segmental: This only affects one side of your body and begins when you are younger. This continues for a few years before coming to an end.

Focal: This is the rare kind of vitiligo that appears in little patches on your skin and doesn’t spread.

Mucosal: This type affects the mucous membranes, such as those inside the mouth and genitals. 

Universal: This is another rare type of disease that spreads in your entire body.

Trichome: This occurs in an unusual blues eye pattern with a white or colorless center. Then a lighter-colored ring, followed by a region of your original skin color.

Vitiligo Treatment & Prevention Tips

vitiligo treatment in India

So, can vitiligo be cured? And what are the treatment options in India? Although there is no specific medicine to completely cure this condition, several drugs can slow the rate of pigmentation loss, help melanocytes rebuild, or restore color to your skin. Medications used include corticosteroids, topical Janus kinase inhibitors (ruxolitinib), and calcineurin inhibitors.

Moreover, some treatments in India to manage the condition are:

Light Therapy

The dermatologist applies ultraviolet B (UVB) light boxes to your skin for brief periods. People with depigmentation on their head, neck, body, upper arms, and legs have demonstrated improvement with this treatment.

Depigmentation Therapy

Here, a medication called monobenzone is applied to your skin to make it the same color as the depigmented areas. The drug is applied to the parts of your skin that correspond to the affected areas.

Surgery 

This represents an additional therapeutic option for patients. Skin grafts are a subset of this treatment in which skin is extracted from various places on your body and utilized to cover other portions. Next is blister grafting, which makes a blister on your skin by suction. After that, your doctor will cut off the blister’s top and attach it to an affected part of your skin.

Prevention Tips 

  • Cover your skin while going anywhere in the sun.
  • Take care of your skin and moisturize daily.
  • If you have any underlying autoimmune disease, then take medicines properly and manage it.
  • Avoid any type of stress or injury to the body.

Conquering Challenges Comes with Vitiligo 

Living with vitiligo harms your steam and confidence more than the skin. Try these things to cope with it.

  • Be kind to yourself and accept your real self. 
  • Raise awareness through social media and NGOs. 
  • Avoid negative comments and focus on positivity.
  • Talk with others about it.
  • Empower yourself. 

Conclusion

When vitiligo strikes, the skin loses its color and many, ever-growing white spots show up on the screen. There are numerous varieties of vitiligo, and each individual has different symptoms and underlying causes. Vitiligo is a difficult skin condition to live with because it changes the appearance of your skin and reduces your appeal. Because of this, people want to treat it even though it is the most difficult illness to treat, despite being innocuous. 

So, the questions like, can vitiligo spread? Well, no but it’s important to see a doctor as soon as you notice any symptoms on your skin. Additionally, if you’re observing vitiligo symptoms and you’re from Bangalore, look out for the best dermatologist in Bangalore and seek assistance for your problem.