Vitiligo

Vitiligo (aka albinism) usually appears after the age of 10. This is a sign that the production of melanin - a group of pigments produced by melanocytes (pigment cells) that gives color to the skin, eyes and hair - has been disrupted. What are the causes and symptoms of vitiligo? What problems do people with this type of albinism deal with? Check how vitiligo is treated.

Vitiligo, or vitiligo, is a skin disease that involves depigmentation, i.e. the death of melanocytes - cells responsible for the color of the skin - and the formation of discolored, light patches on the skin of the body. Today, 1-2 percent of the population struggles with vitiligo.

Vitiligo - causes

The causes of the disease are not exactly known, but it may be due to:

• malfunctioning oxidative mechanisms: the products of the metabolism of melanin synthesis cause damage to the skin pigment;
• autoimmune reaction: problems in the immune system cause damage to the melanocytes. These are, for example, pernicious anemia or alopecia areata;
• nervous system disorders: changes may appear after experiencing high stress or mental shock;
• (very rarely) mechanical injuries of the skin: e.g. scratches

It's good to know that people with thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, pernicious anemia, Addison's disease, or immune system disorders are more likely to develop vitiligo.

Vitiligo symptoms

The symptoms of vitiligo usually appear between the ages of 10 and 20. This type of vitiligo is much more common than congenital albinism. A characteristic feature of this disease is the absence of light spots with edges darker than the surrounding skin, of different size and shape on one side of the body (segmental vitiligo), symmetrically arranged in different areas of the body (vitiligo) or over the entire body ( total vitiligo).

Areas of the body affected by Vitiligo:

head (hair in the area of skin discoloration is also free of dye - discolored strand of hair appears)

• face
• the dorsal surface of the hands (symmetrically arranged around the joints)
• genital skin
• feet
• elbows
• knees

Vitiligo stains may appear suddenly or gradually. They are not painful or harmful, but they are disfiguring and can be an aesthetic problem for patients, especially in summer, when white spots become visible under the influence of the sun (sun rays can also cause erythema within the lesion).

Vitiligo - diagnosis and treatment

In order to diagnose vitiligo, a thorough medical history is carried out (the dermatologist must make sure that white spots are not accompanied by other symptoms), and a Wood's lamp test which emits ultraviolet light (vitiligo skin should "glow" in white). Your doctor may also order a skin biopsy and blood test (to find out what's causing the changes).

Vitiligo is very difficult to treat, but in some cases it can be improved by applying "treatment" by brushing with plant preparations, the aim of which, in combination with sunlight or quartz lamp irradiation, stimulates the re-formation of the skin pigment, i.e. melanocytes (phototherapy). You can also use PUVA lamps, but it is a long therapy (from several months to about a year).

Improvement may also occur under the influence of the sun's rays alone. However, skin deprived of pigment cannot protect itself against UV radiation, therefore, in order to avoid skin burns, this treatment requires great care (first of all, creams with strong filters of at least 30 SPF should be applied to white spots on the skin).

In the early stages of the disease, your doctor may recommend topical corticosteroids or immunosuppressive creams and ointments.

In some situations, permanent makeup may be helpful to mask the changes. It is also recommended to use self-tanners or bronzing lotions.