VITILIGO
~ Vitiligo is a disease in which the pigment cells of the skin, melanocytes, are destroyed in certain areas.
~ Symptoms and signs of vitiligo include loss of skin colour in the form of depigmented, or white, patches of skin in any location on the body.
~ Vitiligo can be focal and localised to one area, or it may affect several different areas on the body.
~ Most people who have vitiligo will develop the condition prior to age 40; about half develop it before age 20.
~ Vitiligo may have a genetic component, as the condition tends to run in families.
~ There is no way to determine if vitiligo will spread or remain confined to one location.
~ Vitiligo is not painful and does not have significant health consequences; however, it can have emotional and psychological consequences.
~ There is no known way to prevent vitiligo.
~ There are no proven home remedies to cure vitiligo, but the use of sunscreens dyes to cover the light areas of skin may improve appearance.
What is vitiligo?
Vitiligo (vit-ill-EYE-go) is a disorder in which white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. This happens because the cells that make pigment (colour) in the skin are destroyed. These cells are called melanocytes (ma-LAN-o-sites).
Vitiligo can also affect the mucous membranes (such as the tissue inside the mouth and nose) and the eye.
o Causes:
The cause is not known. Vitiligo may be an autoimmune disease. These diseases happen when your immune system mistakenly attacks some part of your own body. In vitiligo, the immune system may destroy the melanocytes in the skin. It is also possible that one or more genes may make a person more likely to get the disorder.
Vitiligo can start at any age but often seen in people who are below 40. The white patches will be irregular and cause irritation, discomfort, and dryness in the skin.
The symptoms of vitiligo are different for different people like some people will be effected only by some parts of the body whereas some are affected on two sides of the body and for some people, vitiligo is limited for only one particular part.
TYPES:
There are two types of vitiligo, non-segmental and segmental.
1.Non-segmental vitiligo
~Vitiligo often appears in a semi-symmetrical pattern.
If the first white patches are symmetrical, this suggests a type of vitiligo known as non-segmental vitiligo. The development will be slower than if the patches are in only one area of the body.
~Non-segmental vitiligo is the most common type, accounting for up to 90 percent of cases.
~The patches often appear equally on both sides of the body, with some measure of symmetry. They often appear on skin that is commonly exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, and hands.
Common areas include:
• backs of the hands
• arms
• eyes
• knees
• elbows
• feet
• mouth
• armpit and groin
• nose
• navel
• genitals and rectal area
Non-segmental vitiligo is further broken down into sub-categories:
• Generalised: There is no specific area or size of patches. This is the most common type.
• Acro-facial: This occurs mostly on the fingers or toes.
• Mucosal: This appears mostly around the mucous membranes and lips.
• Universal: Depigmentation covers most of the body. This is very rare.
• Focal: One, or a few, scattered white patches develop in a discrete area. It most often occurs in young children.
Segmental vitiligo:
Segmental vitiligo spreads more rapidly but is considered more constant and stable and less erratic than the non-segmental type. It is much less common and affects only about 10 percent of people with vitiligo. It is non-symmetrical.
It is more noticeable in early age groups, affecting about 30 percent of children diagnosed with vitiligo.
Segmental vitiligo usually affects areas of skin attached to nerves arising in the dorsal roots of the spine. It responds well to topical treatments.
Symptoms:
White patches on the skin are the main sign of vitiligo. These patches are more common in areas where the skin is exposed to the sun. The patches may be on the hands, feet, arms, face, and lips. Other common areas for white patches are:
• 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 grey early. Those with dark skin may notice a loss of colour inside their mouths.
Complications
Vitiligo does not develop into other diseases, but people with the condition are more likely to experience:
• painful sunburn
• Hearing loss
• changes to vision and tear production
A person with vitiligo is more likely to have another autoimmune disorder, such as thyroid problems, Addison’s disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes, or pernicious anaemia. Most people with vitiligo do not have these conditions, but tests may be done to rule them out.
Diagnosis Of Vitiligo:
1.Clinical evaluation:
With the help of a detailed medical history and physical examination, your doctor diagnoses the condition as Vitiligo.
2. Wood’s lamp examination:
A special lamp is used to examine your white patches under ultraviolet light which may further help to confirm the diagnosis.
3.Skin biopsy is advised to rule out other skin diseases.
4. Blood tests: Some blood tests are advised to rule out other associated autoimmune conditions, such as an underactive thyroid, diabetes, anemia, etc.
Homeopathic medicines for vitiligo:
In homeopathy, we choose medicine on the basis of patient’s symptoms & individuality. There are few common medicines for Vitiligo like Ars sulph flavum, Slilicea, Lapis Albus, Calcarea carb, etc.
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