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What is vitiligo, and what causes it?
Vitiligo (vit-ill-EYE-go) is a pigmentation
disorder in which melanocytes (the cells
that make pigment) in the skin are
destroyed. As a result, white patches appear
on the skin in different parts of the body.
Similar patches also appear on both the
mucous membranes (tissues that line the
inside of the mouth and nose), and the
retina (inner layer of the eyeball). The
hair that grows on areas affected by
vitiligo sometimes turns white.
The cause of vitiligo is not known, but
doctors and researchers have several
different theories. There is strong evidence
that people with vitiligo inherit a group of
three genes that make them susceptible to
depigmentation. The most widely accepted
view is that the depigmentation occurs
because vitiligo is an autoimmune disease—a
disease in which a person's immune system
reacts against the body's own organs or
tissues. As such, people's bodies produce
proteins called cytokines that alter their
pigment-producing cells and cause these
cells to die. Another theory is that
melanocytes destroy themselves. Finally,
some people have reported that a single
event such as sunburn or emotional distress
triggered vitiligo; however, these events
have not been scientifically proven as
causes of vitiligo.
Who is affected by vitiligo, and it
vitiligo inherited? process of
Vitiligo Treatment
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About 0.5 to 1 percent of the world's
population, or as many as 65 million people,
have vitiligo. In the United States, 1 to 2
million people have the disorder. Half the
people who have vitiligo develop it before
age 20; most develop it before their 40th
birthday. The disorder affects both sexes
and all races equally; however, it is more
noticeable in people with dark skin.
Vitiligo seems to be somewhat more common in
people with certain autoimmune diseases.
These autoimmune diseases include
hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid
gland), adrenocortical insufficiency (the
adrenal gland does not produce enough of the
hormone called corticosteroid), alopecia
areata (patches of baldness), and pernicious
anemia (a low level of red blood cells
caused by the failure of the body to absorb
vitamin B12). Scientists do not know the
reason for the association between vitiligo
and these autoimmune diseases. However, most
people with vitiligo have no other
autoimmune disease. |
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vitiligo
treatment
may also be hereditary; that is, it
can run in families. Children whose parents
have the disorder are more likely to develop
vitiligo. In fact, 30 percent of people with
vitiligo have a family member with the
disease. However, only 5 to 7 percent of
children will get vitiligo even if a parent
has it, and most people with vitiligo do not
have a family history of the disorder. |
Vitiligo Treatment in India
Depending on the severity of the condition,
the vitiligo treatment method may vary. vitiligo
treatment methods include:
Avoidance of tanning. For fair-skinned
individuals, avoiding tanning of normal skin
can make the areas of vitiligo almost
unnoticeable. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of
at least 30.
Use a cosmetic cover-up solution. Make-up,
self-tanning compounds with dihydroxyacetone,
and dyes (such as Covermark, Walnut Stain,
Vita Dye or Dermablend) help temporarily
conceal the white patches of vitiligo.
Repigmentation vitiligo treatment : The restoration of the
normal pigment and can be achieved with repigmentation therapy or corticosteroids.
To get repigmentation, new pigment cells
must be produced from existing ones, such as
ones found at the base of hair follicles,
from the edge of the patch or from the patch
itself if depigmentation is not complete.
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vitiligo treatment
repigmentation therapy, a patient is
given a psoralen drug (orally) and
then is exposed to ultraviolet light
A (UV-A) in the doctor's office.
This therapy is called PUVA. When
psoralen drugs are activated by
UV-A, they stimulate repigmentation
by increasing the availability of
color-producing cells at the skin's
surface. Psoralen is also available
in a topical form that can be
applied to the body for patients
with small, scattered patches.
Topical corticosteroids (such as
Temovate or Psorcon) are prescribed
for patients with small patches of
vitiligo.
Depigmentation is the destruction of the
remaining melanocytes. vitiligo treatment Patients with vitiligo over half of their exposed body may
want to consider using this method. A
bleaching chemical called monobenzylether of
hydroquinone (Benzoquin) is applied to
normally pigmented skin. vitiligo treatment may take
up to one year. |
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vitiligo
treatment is undertaken in a series of laser
sessions. Improvement is the general rule.
Occasional touch-up booster sessions may be
required. vitiligo treatment is
absolutely painless
You can expect the best vitiligo treatment
amrit clinic is speciality clinic for
vitiligo treatment. We give best vitiligo
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