Vitiligo
All coloring on the body is caused by melanin, which is naturally produced in the skin by melanocytes. Melanocytes are responsible for the pigmentation in skin, hair, eyes, and other areas of the body. Vitiligo is a disorder where patches or areas of the body's melanocytes produce less melanin, or stop altogether. As a result, the areas lose pigmentation and look white.
This can be an issue when the area suffering from vitiligo has high contrast to the white patches ,such as in people with with darker skin or hair or darker colors. The lack of melanin is not dangerous from a health aspect, but the uneven skin or hair coloring can be frustrating and embarrassing for victims. As people age, lack of melanin is a common affliction as melanocytes simply age and fail to produce at the same level as younger cells. Vitiligo, is when melanocytes prematurely fail to produce adequate melanin levels. The condition is most common in a person's twenties to thirties, but can start at any age, even from birth.
Types of Vitiligo
There are three types of vitiligo: focal is a single area of vitiligo, segmental afflicts only one side of the body, and generalized is a loss of coloring over the entire body, though not necessarily evenly distributed.
Treatments for Vitiligo
For minor cases of vitiligo, the cure is to simply cover the loss of pigmentation with cosmetics or dye. Strong foundation products and hair dye can conceal most minor cases of facial or hair vitiligo. Also, for those with pale skin, avoiding sunlight and tans will help reduce the contrast of vitiligo patches and regular skin.
Sunlight may also help cure vitiligo too, since UVA rays are known to stimulate melanocytes into producing melanin, our body's natural protection against the sun's rays. Dermatologist will also prescribe a topical corticosteroid to help stimulate low producing melanocytes in an attempt to cure the effects of vitiligo.
Much about what causes vitiligo is unknown. Some suspect the link is hereditary, as vitiligo appears to run in families. Trauma to skin, such as blunt injuries and serious burns (even sun burns) are also documented causes of vitiligo episodes. There is also inconsistency in cures, as some patient benefit from sun therapy, and others have vitiligo go away on its own. Other patients do not respond to therapy at all, and the vitiligo worsens.
Overall, the best hope for vitiligo sufferers is to love the skin they're in. We are all different shades and colors. While victims of vitiligo will see a drastic contrast, most acquaintances may even fail to notice the patches of pale skin at all. If insecurity persists, cosmetic covering of vitiligo patches, with foundation, hair dye, or simply clothing, may assist victims in facing public scrutiny.
There are many support groups for vitiligo sufferers, and this may be important as the drastic change in appearance can lead to depression. Medical attention may also be needed to rule out other causes of skin pigmentation loss. If possible, vitiligo victims should do their best to adjust to the new appearance and try not to stress over it, as studies have shown stress can exacerbate vitiligo's effects.
