If you see white patches and spots on your skin, it's important to find out if you have vitiligo. This disease increases the risk of having some other autoimmune diseases like thyroid disease and alopecia areata. Some people develop hearing loss or a problem with their vision.
Complications of vitiligo are social stigmatization and mental stress, eye involvement like iritis, depigmented skin is more prone to sunburn, skin cancer, and hearing loss because of loss of cochlear melanocytes. Other complications are related to medications like skin atrophy after prolonged use of topical steroids.
Vitiligo does not cause discomfort to your skin, such as dryness, but the patches may occasionally be itchy. The condition varies from person to person. Some people only get a few small, white patches, but others get bigger white patches that join up across large areas of their skin.
Vitiligo causes isolation, stigmatization, loss of self-esteem, depression, and self-consciousness.
It's believed to be an autoimmune disease. Skin cancer treatment may contribute to the development of vitiligo. But research shows vitiligo doesn't cause skin cancer and may even offer some protection against it and several other types of cancer, possibly due to genetics.
Vitiligo is associated with other autoimmune diseases: Addison disease (disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones) Thyroid disease. Pernicious anemia (decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B12)
But overall the take home message is that having vitiligo does not mean your immune system is weak, or that you are more likely to get an infection. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.
Vitiligo affects approximately 0.5% to 1% of the population. Its prevalence is similar in both genders and in all races. It can appear at any age, but it often starts before the age of 20. The disease does not affect life expectancy.
Certain components of hair dye, bleaching agents, and skin-care products can set off a vitiligo flare. Marmon advises choosing products labeled hypoallergenic that are free of harsh chemicals, fragrances, and irritants.
Vitiligo affects people of all skin types, but it may be more noticeable in people with brown or Black skin. The condition is not life-threatening or contagious. It can be stressful or make you feel bad about yourself.
As you age, Dr. Mohta says untreated vitiligo often progresses to involve the surrounding skin or create new patches of discoloration. This is also known as generalized or nonsegmental vitiligo, which is the most common type.
Vitiligo patients show a high risk of developing psychiatric disorders, in particular anxiety and depression, which may be the psychological consequences of social embarrassment and/or aggravating factors of the skin disease.
New cohort analysis data suggest the risk of COVID-19 death is about 38% decreased among patients with the autoimmune disease.
Vitiligo (pronounced: vittle-EYE-go) is a skin disorder that causes depigmentation (loss of skin color) in irregular patchy patterns. The disorder itself is rare, affecting only about 0.5% to 1% of the world's population.
Vitiligo can also affect the hair, causing white or prematurely gray hair. Some people lose some of their eye color and see light spots on the colored part of an eye. Vitiligo can also develop inside your ear and may affect your hearing.
Generalized vitiligo (also called nonsegmental vitiligo), which is the most common form, involves loss of pigment (depigmentation) in patches of skin all over the body . Depigmentation typically occurs on the face, neck, and scalp, and around body openings such as the mouth and genitals.
Vitiligo affects all races and sexes equally. It's more visible in people with darker skin tones. Although vitiligo can develop in anyone at any age, macules or patches usually become apparent before age 30.
However, people with vitiligo are usually in good health and live normal lives. If it is not associated with symptoms that cause physical discomfort or complications, the condition may be left untreated. Otherwise, there are 3 treatment options for vitiligo: Camouflage using makeup and dyes to conceal affected areas.
Vitiligo sufferers are more susceptible to sunburn because their lesions lack the natural protection from the sun's rays which melanin provides to the rest of their skin. The areas most at risk are those where the skin is thinner such as eyelids, nose, neck, décolleté and the dorsal surfaces of the hands.
Adult and mature boys or girls have to make a conscious decision and it must be noted that vitiligo should not be given undue consideration while selecting a life partner.
As non-segmental vitiligo is closely associated with other autoimmune conditions, you may be assessed to see whether you have any symptoms that could suggest an autoimmune condition, such as: being tired and lacking energy (signs of Addison's disease) being thirsty and needing to urinate often (signs of diabetes)
Vitiligo is an inflammatory skin condition affecting 0·5–2% of people. Previous studies have found that vitiligo does not appear to have an association with an increased body mass index (BMI) nor is BMI a risk factor for vitiligo.
Stress increases the levels of catecholamines, neuropeptides, and cortisol that are higher in vitiligo patients [37–39] suggesting their role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.