Vitiligo is one of the most famous skin diseases that cause panic among patients and those around them, and many rumors and myths are related to it. Vitiligo affects pigment cells in various areas of the body, causing a noticeable change in skin color . According to international statistics, the incidence of vitiligo around the world does not exceed only 1%, and it can occur in all races and age groups, but the incidence increases in ages between 10 to 30 years . There are many factors that stimulate infection with the disease, and different methods of treatment have recently been made available, and here we address everything related to Vitiligo in terms of causes, symptoms and the most effective treatment methods .
The skin consists of several layers, each of which contains cells that differ in their structure and function, and among these cells we find the pigment cells that secrete melanin and are responsible for giving the skin its distinctive color . Vitiligo specifically affects the pigment cells, which leads to a lack of melanin in certain areas, so it appears on the skin in the form of circular spots of a lighter color than the rest of the skin color . The spots vary in size, starting small and gradually increasing in size over a period of months. Vitiligo often appears on the arms, face, and feet and can spread to other areas of the body as well .
Vitiligo occurs in several forms that vary in the size and distribution of spots in the body. The most famous and most common types of vitiligo are :
It is the most common type and white spots are spread all over the body .
In this type, vitiligo affects the mucous membranes of the body, such as the mouth and genitals .
Focal vitiligo is characterized by the appearance of small spots in separate areas of the body and does not spread like the types mentioned above .
Segmental vitiligo is characterized by the involvement of only one part or a specific side of the body, such as only the hands or the face .
Hairy vitiligo is distinguished by spots, as we find the center of the focus completely colorless, then surrounded by a light-colored circle, then the natural skin color .
There is no specific cause for vitiligo, but scientists put forward several theories and explanations, and pointed to some factors that stimulate infection, including :
Statistics have found that 30% of patients have a satisfactory family history of the spread of infection, and this is what prompted scientists to develop the theory of heredity, as the transmission of some genes through generations causes vitiligo .
It is one of the strong theories that indicate that if the immune system is abnormally active, this leads to the formation of antibodies that affect the nature of the secretion of melanocytes in the skin, causing vitiligo .
When exposed to a substance that has side effects on the nerve endings feeding melanocytes, this may lead to vitiligo .
Perhaps one of the most rumors and myths about Vitiligo is that it is contagious and that it may be transmitted from one person to another through touch, but in fact Vitiligo does not cause infection at all .
Vitiligo causes light-colored spots, but it is not painful at all, but if the patient is exposed to the burning sun , he may get burns from the sun in those spots, and then they are more painful than other normal areas of the body . Therefore, it is important to use a sunscreen that is suitable for the nature of the skin when exposed to the sun for long periods, especially in the summer, and to wear light cotton clothes . Complications of Vitiligo and the most important disorders associated with it
