Vitiligo is a skin condition causing discoloration due to a lack of melanocytes, the specialised skin cells that produce melanin which is responsible for imparting colour to the skin, hair and eyes. Contrary to common (mis)understanding, it is not a contagious or deadly disease. Let’s decode the A-Z of this condition, its symptoms, causes and treatment.
Vitiligo affects around 70 million people across the world, according to the Global Vitiligo Foundation. As per a 2023 study, its prevalence in the Indian population was found to be 1.9%, with two females affected for every three males.
Indiatoday spoke with Dr Amit Bangia, Associate Director – Dermatology, Asian Hospital, Faridabad to get more insights.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder which means that it is caused when the body’s own immune system tends to attack its healthy skin cells. It is also a chronic condition, which means that the person affected may have it for a lifetime.
Vitiligo can develop anywhere on the body, but these patches usually appear on the face, arms, hands and feet. The most common symptoms of vitiligo are white or light skin patches, lighter patches inside the mouth or nose, occasionally itchy patches of skin, white or greying hair on the eyelashes, scalp or eyebrows, and changes in eye colour. Over time, these patches can grow and spread over other parts of the body like the inside of the mouth and the genitals too. Itching is absent, lesions are asymptomatic. Eye Color change is not generally seen in vitiligo.
What causes vitiligo? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, having a blood relative with the same condition or autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid or cause hair loss increases the chances of developing vitiligo. Skin cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are also known to trigger vitiligo in some people, as is the treatment associated with these diseases. Isolated events such as sunburn, exposure to chemicals and emotional distress have also been known to cause vitiligo or make it worse.
It is important to seek medical attention if one finds white patches on the skin to rule out vitiligo. This is because, even though it isn’t a deadly condition as such, vitiligo can lead to deafness and loss of vision in some people due to inflammation of the ear and eye membranes respectively.
A medical professional can diagnose vitiligo by reviewing medical history, and close inspection of the patches under a specialised lamp. Blood tests may be ordered too, for confirmation of the diagnosis, Treatment available for vitiligo is mainly aimed at restoring lost skin colour, preventing the patches and/or spots from getting bigger and preventing new patches from appearing.
The modes of treatment range from the application of topical creams/ointments like corticosteroids and JAK inhibitors to light therapy using UV light to restore natural skin colour to even surgery in advanced cases. As vitiligo can cause nutrient deficiency, the doctor may prescribe a specific diet and supplements to ingest regularly.
However, treating physical symptoms may not be enough. Most people affected by vitiligo are known to suffer from low self-esteem and depression. Therefore it is imperative to seek counselling and therapy in addition to regular medical care when it comes to vitiligo.
A blood test is not required for diagnosis but to find out any associated conditions like thyroid disease.
This World Vitiligo Day, it is important to spread awareness about the condition to do away with societal taboo and shunning of those with vitiligo.
Source Agencies
