The first time one looks at vitiligo, it's often a moment of curiosity. Conditions like vitiligo stand out. Vitiligo, has long been regarded as enigmatic and even strange by those unfamiliar with its complexities. Its patchy appearance and seemingly random distribution raises the question: What causes people who have vitiligo to have a mosaic look?
Overview of Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a lasting condition where parts of your skin lose color. It occurs when cells called melanocytes, which give your skin its color, are attacked and damaged, making the skin turn milky-white. In vitiligo, the white patches typically show up symmetrically on both sides of your body, like on both hands or knees. Occasionally, there can be a quick loss of color, covering a large area.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease where the body's defense system, called the immune system, mistakenly attacks its own healthy skin cells—leading to white patches. Sometimes, if one person in a family has vitiligo, others in the family might have it too. Unfortunately, there's no known cure for vitiligo yet. Anyone can get vitiligo and it can appear at any age. Vitiligo impacts individuals of all races and genders equally. It's often more noticeable in those with darker skin tones.
How does vitiligo start and what types of vitiligo are there?
Vitiligo often starts with small white patches that can grow and spread slowly. It usually begins on the hands, arms, feet, and face, but can appear anywhere, even on moist areas like the mouth, nose, and genitals, as well as the eyes and inner ears. Sometimes, the patches get bigger and spread, but they usually stay in the same spots for years.
The smaller patches might shift as some areas lose color and then regain it. The amount of skin affected by vitiligo varies from person to person. Some may have just a few white patches, while others may lose color over large parts of their skin.
Types of vitiligo
Generalized: This type of vitiligo is the most common, leading to the appearance of white patches in different areas of your body.
Segmental: This type only impacts one side of your body or a specific area, like your hands or face.
Mucosal: This type impacts the mucous membranes around the mouth and/or genitals.
Focal: This is a rare form of vitiligo where white patches appear in a small area and do not spread in a specific pattern within one to two years.
Trichome: This type creates a pattern resembling a bullseye, with a white or colorless center, followed by an area of lighter pigmentation, and then the natural skin tone.
Universal: This rare form of vitiligo results in over 80% of your skin lacking pigment.
Symptoms and Causes
The primary symptom of vitiligo is the loss of natural skin color or pigment, known as depigmentation. These depigmented patches can show up anywhere on your body and can affect:
Skin: Resulting in milky-white patches, commonly found on the hands, feet, arms, and face, though they can occur anywhere.
Hair: Can turn white in areas where the skin is losing pigment, including the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, and body hair.
Mucous membranes: Such as the area around your mouth or nose.
Scientists theorize that vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and damages melanocytes. Furthermore, ongoing research explores the idea that family history and genetics play a role in the development of vitiligo. Occasionally, certain events like sunburn, emotional stress, or exposure to chemicals can trigger or worsen vitiligo.
Diagnosis, treatment, and is it contagious?
A doctor typically conducts a visual examination to diagnose vitiligo accurately. They might use a Wood’s lamp, which emits ultraviolet (UV) light, to examine your skin. This helps distinguish vitiligo from other skin conditions. Additionally, your doctor may inquire about your medical history and family medical history to gather more information.
Treatment for vitiligo is generally considered optional since the condition isn’t harmful to your health and is mainly cosmetic. However, if you have widespread vitiligo or if the physical symptoms affect your emotional well-being, your doctor can assist you in finding a treatment option. These treatments aim to achieve a more uniform skin tone by either restoring color (repigmentation) or eliminating the remaining color (depigmentation) in your skin.
No, vitiligo is not contagious. It does not spread from person to person through physical contact.
Overall, Vitiligo is a complex and often misunderstood condition that affects individuals of all races and ages. While it is not harmful to one's physical health, its impact on emotional well-being and self-image can be significant. Remember, rather than viewing vitiligo as something unusual, we should embrace it, recognizing the beauty and strength that lies within each individual regardless of their skin pigmentation.
Citations:
Cleveland Clinic. “Vitiligo of the Skin | Cleveland Clinic.” Cleveland Clinic, 2016, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12419-vitiligo. Accessed 11 May 2024.
Garrick, Nancy. “Vitiligo.” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 12 Apr. 2017, www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/vitiligo#:~:text=Vitiligo%20is%20a%20chronic%20(long. Accessed 11 May 2024.
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