Vitiligo ExplaIned
What is Vitiligo? Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes a loss of skin pigmentation in irregular patches. With vitiligo, there are not enough working melanocytes to produce enough melanin in your skin therefore causing white patches to develop. Not only does it appear on the skin, but it can appear inside the mouth as well as the hair since hair and skin are determined by melanin. Though it may seem extremely rare, an estimated 70 million people around the world live with this skin condition. Though this condition is not life threatening nor dangerous, it is a lifelong condition that can be stressful to live with and cause an emotional impact in one's life.
Vitiligo can appear on at any age, ethnicity, and gender, but may be more apparent in darker skin tones. It typically will present itself before the age of 30 years old, and depending on the type of vitiligo, can just appear on one side of the body, the face and hands, or all surfaces. Typically, the patches are irregular in shape and do not cause any discomfort or irritation.
Treatment for vitiligo can be difficult, as there are not many therapies to choose from. Applying a steroid cream to the skin can help with the inflammatory process, and possibly restore some of the pigment of the skin. Light therapy, or phototherapy with UVB has shown to stop or slow the progression of vitiligo. For those who cannot get to a phototherapy clinic, there are at home devices with UVB that are easy to use and can be taken on the go. It is recommended to be mindful of sun exposure and wear sunscreen as the lighter patches are more sun sensitive.
Coping and support plays a huge factor with those who have vitiligo or your loved ones who have the skin condition. There are many different self care strategies to help those with vitiligo such as support groups, learning about the condition, communicating feelings with a healthcare provider. Seeking understanding from family and friends is beneficial for those who feel down or self conscious about their vitiligo.