What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition characterized by the development of white patches on the skin.

1. Our skin has color-forming cells called melanocytes.
2. In vitiligo, our immunity starts attacking these color-forming cells.
3. Loss of color-forming cells leads to loss of pigment production in the skin
4. This leads to white color in the skin where color-forming cells were killed. This condition is called vitiligo or Leucoderma.

Vitiligo Facts and Figures

1. Vitiligo affects over 1% of people in the world. Both genders are affected equally. It is observed that the disorder is easily found in people above 40 and some before 20.
2. The disease is thought to be an autoimmune condition
3. Vitiligo is genetic and can be seen in patients who inherit traits of this disease from their ancestors as the condition tends to run in families.
4. There could be multiple other such as thyroid dysfunction.
5. There are certain allopathic treatments available today but they do not offer 100% cure.

According to modern science, Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by many external as well as internal factors.

Some of the internal causes are as follows-

• Positive family history of the disease.
• Presence of infection in the body
• Gastric and liver-related problems
• Blood groups B and AB
• Pregnancy
• Acute illness
• Death of near and dear in family
• Stressful conditions
• Copper and Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Pollution
• Preservative containing foods
• Irregular life style.
• Indiscriminate use of antibiotics oxytetracycline/ciprofloxacin/streptomycin

Some of the external causes are-

• Long term contact with rubber shoes or nylon clothes can cause chemical irritation to skin and trigger the disorder.
• Pressure and friction of tight clothes / watches / undergarments has been found to a trigger in many cases.
• Contact with Photograph developing solution.
• Artificial Jewellery
• Injury to skin (Koebner's Phenomenon)