Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that causes loss of color in some areas of the skin. As a result, uneven white patches without any pigmentation start to develop. Some may develop only a few white spots, while others may have a more widespread loss of pigment. However, in both cases, the skin feels normal. There is no cure for this skin condition, although treatment may help stop its progression. Here’s what one needs to know.
Causes
Vitiligo is a type of autoimmune disorder that occurs when the immune system begins to attack healthy cells. In this case, the immune cells that produce melanocytes, which are responsible for producing melanin, start to die, resulting in a loss of melanin production. Melanin is the pigment that gives color to our skin, so the skin becomes lighter wherever the melanin-producing cells are attacked.
Over time, white patches start to appear. It is unknown why the immune system attacks the cells that produce the melanin. However, healthcare experts know certain factors can increase the risk of developing it. Some of the well-known risk factors include:
Symptoms
The symptoms usually start before the age of 30 years. But in some people, it can start even at an older age. Some of the common symptoms include the following.
Types
The type of vitiligo depends on how and where the patches of skin discoloration occur.
Treatment options
Since vitiligo is not curable, treatments are given by board-certified dermatologists with the following objectives.
A dermatologist may recommend prescriptions, light therapy, or skin graft and cell transplant surgery. In severe but rare cases, when a person loses nearly all of their natural skin color, depigmentation is done to remove the remaining color from the skin.