Inheritance. Vitiligo sometimes runs in families, but the inheritance pattern is complex because multiple causative factors are involved. About one-fifth of people with this condition have at least one close relative who is also affected.
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. The inherited origin of vitiligo and its frequent association with autoimmune diseases suggest an association between HLA systems to vitiligo predisposition. The HLA loci are strongly linked to other loci in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region of chromosome 6p.
Others think it is a genetic condition, as affected kids often have a family member who also has it. What is known is that the risk of developing vitiligo increases in kids with a family or personal history of thyroid disease, diabetes, and certain conditions like alopecia (an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss).
Kemp et al. [42] reported the first vitiligo non-MHC candidate gene association with CTLA4, which encodes a T-cell co-receptor involved in regulation of T-cell activation and which is associated with several of the other autoimmune diseases that are epidemiologically associated with vitiligo.
If a person has vitiligo, the risk that a first-degree family member (parent, child, or sibling) is 5%, or 5 times higher than the general population. That seems like a big increase, but even so, that means only about 1 in 20 first-degree relatives of vitiligo patients get vitiligo as well.
Inheritance. Vitiligo sometimes runs in families, but the inheritance pattern is complex because multiple causative factors are involved. About one-fifth of people with this condition have at least one close relative who is also affected.
There is currently no cure for vitiligo and no way to prevent the condition.
Vitiligo can start at any age, but usually appears before age 30. Depending on the type of vitiligo you have, it may affect: Nearly all skin surfaces. With this type, called universal vitiligo, the discoloration affects nearly all skin surfaces.
However, it is not a rule that children of vitiligo parents will always have vitiligo. Relatively, the chance of the offspring having vitiligo may be somewhat higher if one or more of the parents have vitiligo. Vitiligo does not spread by touch or contact. It does not affect marriage life or physical relationship.
After 6 to 12 months, segmental vitiligo tends to stabilize, meaning that the color loss stops. Once it stops, most people with segmental vitiligo don't develop new patches or spots.
Research suggests that most people who develop vitiligo do so during childhood. As you age, Dr. Mohta says untreated vitiligo often progresses to involve the surrounding skin or create new patches of discoloration.
Protect your skin from the sun.
A bad sunburn can worsen vitiligo. If you have a lighter skin tone, there's another advantage to protecting your skin from the sun. Without a tan, the lighter spots and patches are often less noticeable.
Vitiligo often starts as a pale patch of skin that gradually turns completely white. The centre of a patch may be white, with paler skin around it. If there are blood vessels under the skin, the patch may be slightly pink, rather than white. The edges of the patch may be smooth or irregular.
Localized: Skin patches are found on limited areas of the body. Generalized: Skin patches are scattered around the body. Mucosal : Vitiligo affects the mucous membranes found in the mouth and/or genitals. Focal: Skin patches remain in a small area of the body without spreading in the first two years.
To the best of our knowledge, vitamin D significantly affects melanocytes and keratinocytes. Studies suggest that vitamin D3 increases tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in vitro [12], which may lead to repigmentation in vitiligo skin lesions.
Some food items like juicy fruits rich in vitamin C or ascorbic acid such as oranges and lemon, other fermented food items as curd, alcohol, Fish, red meat are to be avoided as they have harmful effect on vitiligo and can give rise to spreading of patches.
Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentation disorder affecting 1-4% of the world population with equal distribution in both genders and all ethnic groups [1–3].
People with vitiligo may also have an increased risk of other autoimmune conditions, such as pernicious anemia, Addison's disease, and Sjögren's disease.
Moreover, people with vitiligo lack melanin, which is the body's natural protection from the sun, so sun exposure can be particularly dangerous. That's why it's vital that people with vitiligo use broad-spectrum sun protection with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 and above.
But in any way you look at it, it doesn't mean that your immune system is weak because you have vitiligo. It actually means that it's a little too strong, so you are most likely NOT more susceptible to coronavirus or any other virus.
Topical steroids. Topical steroids come as a cream or ointment you apply to your skin. They can sometimes stop the spread of the white patches and may restore some of your original skin colour.
No drug can stop the process of vitiligo — the loss of pigment cells (melanocytes). But some drugs, used alone, in combination or with light therapy, can help restore some color. Drugs that control inflammation. Applying a corticosteroid cream to affected skin might return color.