Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder in which the cells that provide the skin with the color gets damaged which results in white patches which may start progression and starts to appear on different parts of the body.
White patches produced by vitiligo can appear on any location on the body. Sometimes the hair present on the lesions also turns white. Mostly these white patches starts to appear on the skin that is mostly exposed to sun such as the hands, feet, arms, face, and lips but these patches may even appear on genitals which is the area of the body that is least exposed to sun.
Vitiligo generally appears in one of the three patterns. These patterns depend on the type of vitiligo. If the type of vitiligo is focal vitiligo than these patches are limited to one or only a few areas and there is no way to predict further course of vitiligo. Universalis vitiligo is the type of vitiligo in which only few areas of normally pigmented skin are left and rest of the whole body gets de-pigmented. Segmental vitiligo is another type of vitiligo in which patches appear on any one side of the body either left or right.
Another type of vitiligo called Vulgaris Vitiligo produces small white patches in the form of shower. Acrofacial vitiligo is the type of vitiligo in which white patches appear on the parts of the body that are away from the center of the body such as face, head, hands and feet.
This skin disorder is usually progressive, yet with time these white patches may extend to other areas of the body. In some cases vitiligo spreads slowly whereas in most of the cases it progresses speedily.
The diagnosis of this disease is usually simple and Doctors always starts by analyzing patient’s skin. They may use Wood’s Lamp to identify this disease. Doctors also analyze patient’s history for confirmation of the vitiligo if present in any blood relative because this disease is considered to be genetic disorder. Medical history is now being considered as a major step in diagnosing vitiligo. In very rare case a skin biopsy may also be required.
Causes of this disease are not completely known and different factors are held responsible for its cause. Inheritance is considered to be its most basic cause because it is believed to a genetic disorder. Researchers also believe that vitiligo may have some relationships with other autoimmune diseases and these other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, and pernicious anemia to be its cause. Some people have also reported that this skin disorder is triggered by a single event such as sever sun burn or mental distress.
This disease is believed to be present from thousands of years but its facts such as its causes and course is not fully known and neither its permanent cure is found only re-pigmentation treatments are available.
