Vitiligo: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment


What is vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a condition that causes the skin to lose a huge part of its natural color. A lot of patches of lighter skin appear. In some cases, only a few patches are developed whereas in other cases, a lot of skin color is lost.
Vitiligo also ends up affecting other parts of the affected person’s body. For example, an entire section of hair can turn white. Some people also end up losing color inside their mouths. Even an eye can lose some of its colors. However, the cause of this color loss is still unknown to experts in the field.
While Vitiligo is neither life-threatening nor contagious, it is highly impactful on one’s life. In most cases, the patient develops low self-esteem and very low confidence levels as well. It can easily be treated, so do not worry if you develop vitiligo.
What are the types of Vitiligo?
The most common type of Vitiligo is the Non-segmental vitiligo and is found in up to 90 percent of cases.
In the cases of non-segmental vitiligo, the patches often appear equally on both sides of the body and are also symmetrical. In most of the cases, these spots appear on parts of the skin which 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
However, patches can also appear in other areas.
Non-segmental vitiligo can further be divided into the following sub-categories:
- Generalized: This type of non-segmental vertigo is not confined to a certain specific area or the size of patches. This is the most common type of non-segmental vertigo.
- Acrofacial: The vitiligo that appears most on the fingers or toes is acrofacial.
- Mucosal: The mucosal vitiligo appears mostly around the mucous membranes and lips.
- Universal: This occurs in extremely rare cases. But, in such a scene depigmentation covers most of the body.
- Focal: One or a few scattered white patches would develop in a discrete area. This type of vitiligo is mostly found in very young children.
Who is affected by vitiligo?
Vitiligo basically affects indiscriminately both- the male and the female population of this planet, and is not dependent on the prototype of the skin or the race. There is no particular age at which one can get vitiligo. However, it is commonly found in people who are affected by other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid malfunction, diabetes, alopecia areata, megaloblastic anemia, etc.
Most incidence ranges from 1% to 2% in most populations, but only with the exception of areas such as India and South America in which there is an existing genetic and environmental impact. (e.g. humidity, temperature, and sunshine). In these regions, the vitiligo affected patients are found to be at numbers ranging up to 8.8 % of the population. It is observed that 20-38% of the patients have first and second degree relatives who are also known to suffer from vitiligo.
What are the causes of vitiligo?
In a nutshell, Vitiligo is said to develop whenever the cells called melanocytes die. These cells give our skin and hair color. Scientists do not completely understand the reason behind the death of these cells. The most common type of vitiligo is said to be an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease basically develops whenever the body starts mistaking a part of itself to be foreign. If the body mistakes melanocytes to be foreigners, it will attack and kill these cells.
Studies also suggest that the other type of vitiligo, segmental vitiligo, has a different cause. This type seems to develop when something in the body’s nervous system goes awry.
What are the Treatments of Vitiligo?
Although not medically harmful, the white patches can sometimes cause emotional distress. Most of the treatments for vitiligo are designed to help restore color to the white patches appearing on the skin. For some people, treatment ends up making the skin color look more even, but a lot of treatments can have various unwanted side effects. Medical treatments can include:
- Medicines or medicated skin creams.
- Tattooing small areas of skin.
- A combination of ultraviolet light treatment and medicine.
- Surgery, when topical creams and light therapy do not work.
- Removing the color from dark areas of the skin so they match the white patches
You should visit experts at clinics like ClearSkin to get the right guidance on the diagnosis. While most medications are prescribed, they do not prove to be beneficial. Here, you can find the right surgical techniques to get rid of your problem.
My sister has segmental viteligo on lateral part forearm and front of the neck region what will the line of treatment for her and what will be the approximate cost of the treat
hello,
it’s very difficult to frame the cost of treatment and treatment name without doing any checkup.i will suggest to meet a dermatologist and follow the prescription.
keep in touch.
Sir
I need your guidance as I am having vitiligo problem on my face, lips and on forehead and on genital organs & little on hands. Now I am on medicine’s like trimop forte tablets on alternate days ( as I am suffering from chronic disease like hypertension and diabetes & neuropathy).
Please guide
Regards
P.Saha
Siliguri
hello,
I can definitely understand your concern but without doing any physical check-up, it’s really difficult to prescribe any medications.
i would like you to meet with a dermatologist and take the guidence.
keep in touch.
Sir
Mere lips ke both sides me vitiligo problem dikh Raha Hai .abhi ye dag kam matra me Hai aur ye dag only twenty days se dhire – dhire badh Raha Hai .
So sir se request Hai ki aap Mujhe please guide kre ki is dag Ka treatment kya hai.
hello,
i can definatly understand your concern, but i need to know your complete your past history, to give you guidence.
Hello sir I got vitiligo on my legs near ankel in two legs since I was 8 now I’m 22 it’s not spreading can u suggest me how to remove it from root?
hello,
i will be a little difficult to talk about it without doing any physical examination.
i will share a link with you, which might be helpful for you, https://www.clearskin.in/?s=vitiligo
Hi sir I am Jakir Husain from BALLIA in U.P. I have small vitiligo on down lip. I have suffering from last five years and take homeopaths medicine. What is the suitable medicine or like other treatments laser , tattoo and so on please regards me . Vitiligo size of one inch
hello,
i need to examine your skin and then only we can tell you about any medications.
i will share a link with you, which will be helpful for you, https://www.clearskin.in/?s=vitiligo
Sir my body 90 % efected with vitilogo , मेरे पैर, हाथ, सीना पूरा सफेद हो चुका है चेहरे का थोड़ा भाग सफेद होने से बचा है जिसकी वजह से दिखने में बुरा लगता है । कृपया मेरे चेहरे व बॉडी पर बचा हुआ कलर भी में साफ करवाना चाहता हु । कृपया de-pigmentation के बारे में बताए कि यह कहा संभव है ।
hello,
aapko bina consult karke nahi baata sakte hai, koi bhi medications, kindly follow your dermatologist prescription.
Hello Dr. M suffering from vitiligo from 2year at my past 2yr I have spot on lips,bt at this time I got another patch on my eyebrows nd on leg also they where small patch..Plz suggest me abt this nd at present m in delhi if uh knw
hello,
I will suggest you consult a dermatologist to get better help, as I will not able to guide without doing any physical examination.
you can use any non-comedogenic creams also.
Without doing any physical examination, it’s not possible to prescribe any medications.
Hello sir
Iam suffering from vitiligo problem from more than 20years i have taken lot of treatment but no help, I live in Andaman and Nicobar island its far of place pls advice me
Thanks
With regards
Dharvinder lall
Mob.9933230611
[email protected]
hello,
I will suggest you consult a dermatologist to get better help, as I will not able to guide without doing any physical examination.
Sir.,.. i am shrawan kumar. From jharkhand ….. Sir I suffering lecoderma from 5 year on my head…. Please create my problem ……… please give me a mo. No. …… Becouse i want to talk you sir….. Or… My no 09065037527
hello,
I will suggest you consult a dermatologist to get better help, as I will not able to guide without doing any physical examination. Or you can call us on 7798022622, we will help you out.
safed hamere lips m h pet m hai face pr hai
hello,
I will suggest you consult a dermatologist to get better help, as I will not able to guide without doing any physical examination.
Hello sir,
My sister has white patch on ankles both sides. And it has been last 12 year, it is not increaseing or decreasing. She took many madicine form doctor but its not effected. Please help !!