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Vitiligo: Causes, symptoms and treatment options

  • Autoimmune factor – The skin consists of certain cells called melanocytes, whose role is to aid in the synthesis of melanin. Melanin is the pigment which gives the skin its natural shade. But there is a theory which states that in vitiligo, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells such as these melanocytes, considering them to be foreign invaders and this leads to either destruction or dysfunctioning of the melanocytes in the affected skin area, thus formation of lighter skin patches.
  • Hereditary transmission – If the reports are to be believed, nearly 20-30 percent of the individuals suffering from vitiligo have its family history, signifying the role of genes in the development of this condition. Certain genes such as NLRP1 and PTPN22, which are linked with the immune system regulation, are involved in causing vitiligo.
  • Environmental conditions – Those individuals who are genetically at a higher risk of getting vitiligo due to their family history, can develop this condition under the situations of chronic stress or if the skin has been exposed to sun or chemicals.
  • Oxidative damage by free radicals – If the body cells are under oxidative stress by the formation of free radicals such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), but there are not enough antioxidant defenses available, this imbalance can be a triggering factor for vitiligo development. Excessive levels of ROS can lead to depigmentation of the skin by damaging the melanocytes.
vitiligo causes and treatment
  • Characteristic white patches – One of the most common diagnostic features of vitiligo is the appearance of milky white hued patches on the skin. They can be localized anywhere, but the most common sites include face, arms, hands, feet etc.
  • Depigmented hair – Not only does the skin gets affected, vitiligo can transfer to the scalp as well (which is skin too). This results in premature graying of hair on the head. Additionally, the hair of eyelashes, eyebrows or beard can also lighten up if the respective skin area gets affected.
  • Symmetrical or asymmetrical lesions – In most cases, vitiligo is non-segmental, which implies that the depigmented skin patches are asymmetrically distributed on both halves of the body. But vitiligo can be segmented too, affecting the melanocytes of only one side of the body.
  • Disease progression – Vitiligo may sometimes progress up to the genitals or the buccal cavity and lead to appearance of white patches in the mucosal lining of the mouth or genital areas. Also its pace is hard to detect as it may progress very slowly in some, but in others it might be very rapid.
  • Topical application – Certain creams are recommended by a well-trained dermatologist to be applied topically, consisting of corticosteroids or vitamin D analogues. White the vitamin D analogues function to give a boost to the activity of melanocytes, topical corticosteroids are used to delay or prevent the condition’s progression and show anti-inflammatory effect.
  • Phototherapy – One of the most effective therapies which tries to give the skin its natural colour back is narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) therapy. It functions by stimulation of melanocyte activity and the release of melanin, which gives the skin its hue back.
  • Surgery – If the vitiligo is in a stable zone, but not progressing, skin grafting works wonders to reduce depigmented skin areas by helping to transplant the healthy skin onto the white patches and treating them. Another advanced treatment option is the transfer of melanocytes to the affected skin area.
  • Depigmentation – If the vitiligo is widespread, achieving uniform skin tone can be performed by undergoing depigmentation of the remaining skin. For this, certain chemical agents are required such as monobenzyl ether or hydroquinone.

Conclusion

Dr. Neha Khuraana

Dr. Neha Khuraana, the driving force behind House of Aesthetics, is dedicated to guiding you towards your best skin and hair health. With over 12 years of experience as a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Neha combines FDA-approved technology, personalized at-home care regimens and dietary changes to help you achieve your skincare goals comfortably and effectively.

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