Symptoms and Causes of Vitiligo

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a disorder in which white colored patches appears on the skin. Vitiligo is otherwise called leucoderma means white skin. They may appear on any part of the body. This is actually a pigmentation disorder. The body cells that form pigment are called melanocytes.

Melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin. When these melanocytes get destroyed, it leads to the appearance of white patches on the skin. These white patches may also appear on the retina and mucous membrane seen inside the mouth and nose. Even the hairs developed on the affected area become white. Both male and female are equally susceptible to this disorder and most of the people get this disorder before the age of 40.

Symptoms of Vitiligo

The affected persons may first develop white patches on that part of skin which is exposed to sun. Usually it appears on the arms, hands, face, feet, lips etc. Later the patches may affect the areas around the mouth, navel, rectal areas, genitals, nostrils etc. Some times the de-pigmentation occurs only on a limited area and this type of vitiligo is called focal pattern vitiligo.

In other cases the patches develops only on one side of the body and is called segmental pattern. While in certain other case the patches appears symmetrically on both the sides of the body and this type is called generalized pattern.

Causes of Vitiligo

Vitiligo is supposed to be an autoimmune disorder where the body fails to identify its own tissues and organs. Such people can produce cytokine that is a protein that can alter melanocytes leading to its death. In certain other people melanocytes get destroyed by themselves and thus causing vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a hereditary disorder that can be inherited through families. This is because the vitiligo patients are found to have three genes that make them susceptible to this disease. Families having the history of premature graying of hair are also at the risk of developing this disorder. People having hyperthyroidism, alopecia areata, adrenocortical insufficiency etc are also at the risk of getting vitiligo.

Recent Articles

• Foodborne Illness
• Adrenal Insufficiency
• Thyroiditis – Types and Treatment
• Sacroiliitis – Dealing with sacroiliac joint pain
• Pilonidal Cyst – Remedies for pilonidal cysts

What's More today?

Foodborne Illness

The food that we eat for nourishing our body could even be a source of health hazard. Contaminants and... 

Treat Gingivitis Naturally

Use Fumitory – Use fumitory plant to treat Gingivitis. Prepare the decoction of the plant with dried... 

Hand Numbness – Causes and Treatment

Loss of sensation or numbness in either or both the hands might develop due to several reasons. Often... 

Belly Fat Diet – Diet for Reducing Belly Fat

The unsightly bulging belly is extremely harmful for your health. Although you can easily lose the fat... 

Adrenal Insufficiency

Adrenal insufficiency develops when the adrenal glands fail to produce sufficient adrenal hormones. The... 

Nutmeg Oil for Good Health

Promotes Brain Functionality – Regular intake of nutmeg oil is widely acknowledged as a stimulant for... 

Thyroiditis – Types and Treatment

Inflammation of the thyroid gland is known as thyroiditis. Depending on the factor responsible for the... 

Hypothyroidism Diet

Poor metabolism reduces the body’s ability to burn calories, resulting in fat buildup and weight gain.... 

Balanitis – Causes and Treatment

Balanitis is characterized by swelling on the glans penis or the tip of the penis. Inflammation of the... 

Stomach Bug – Prevention and Treatment

Stomach bugs are one of the major causes of digestive disorders. The bacteria and viruses invading the... 

Bruxism – How to stop teeth grinding

Teeth grinding or bruxism is a habit that affects a large number of children and adults. People affected... 

Sacroiliitis – Dealing with sacroiliac joint pain

Sacroiliac joints are present at the bottom of the spine between the tailbone and the hipbone. On either... 

Pilonidal Cyst – Remedies for pilonidal cysts

Pilonidal cyst is a painful cyst that develops near the cleft of the buttocks, below the tailbone. The... 

Amenorrhea – Causes and Treatment

While pregnancy is one of the major causes of missing periods, absence of menstrual bleeding can also... 

Metabolism Diet

The metabolism rate of your body might be the real culprit responsible for your weight gain. If the metabolism...