Vitiligo can be defined as a skin disease where pale white patches start forming on the skin due to a lack of melanin, a skin pigment. If you have vitiligo in a place that has hair, the hair on your body may also turn white. A common misconception is that it is contagious.
Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of people with vitiligo in Africa. At least 844,000 people have the condition in Nigeria, according to a report. Statistics also show that Nigerians living with Vitiligo suffer discrimination from their peers.
Every June 25, World Vitiligo Day is celebrated to create awareness for people with vitiligo worldwide.
This year’s theme is ‘Awareness, Love, Respect, and Care.’
Here are some things to know about this skin condition.
Causes of Vitiligo
Although there are some theories, the causes aren’t completely understood.
Autoimmune disorder: The affected person’s immune system may develop antibodies that destroy melanocytes.
Genetic factors: Certain factors that may increase the chance of getting vitiligo can be inherited. About 30% of vitiligo cases run in families.
Neurogenic factors: A substance that is toxic to melanocytes may be released at nerve endings in the skin.
Self-destruction: A defect in the melanocytes causes them to destroy themselves.
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Symptoms
Vitiligo often starts with the loss of pigment quickly in several areas of your skin. After the white patches appear, they may stay the same for a while, but later on, they might get bigger. You may have cycles of pigment loss and stability.
It often affects body folds (such as armpits), places that have been injured in the past, and areas exposed to the sun, around moles, or around body openings. It can also affect eyelids and hair.
Risk Factors
Aside from having white patches form on the skin, there are certain other risk factors associated with this disorder, like inflammation in the iris, loss of hearing, and sunburn.
Treatment
Treatments vary; it depends on the kind of treatment the specialist finds suitable.
These treatments include medicated creams and ointments for skin, oral medicines, medicine, and phototherapy as a combined treatment; surgical treatments like skin grafts and tattooing small areas of skin; sunscreens; counseling; and support.