Vitiligo - what is it? Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Vitiligo

Riddle disease - that's what they say about vitiligo. And indeed, not all people know about its existence. The disease is not fatal, but it is unpleasant to encounter it, because everyone wants to look good, which is impossible if there is vitiligo. This is a skin pathology, getting rid of which becomes the main goal of all patients. It is also called leukopathy and dog.

vitiligo photo

Vitiligo - what is it?

Scientifically, vitiligo is a chronic dermatosis. It is expressed by depigmentation. In other words, the destruction of cells or their weakening occurs, as a result of which they cannot produce the pigment melanocyte.

Today, some shifts in the study of the disease are noticeable. Although the cause of cell destruction is still unknown, doctors continue research and draw conclusions based on the findings. For example, most of them say that vitiligo is still an autoimmune disease. But what contributes to its development, what the body reacts to in this way, no one knows.

The disease is relatively common. According to the data received, it is known that about 4% of the planet’s population is its carriers, and this is approximately 300 million people. Most of them are already adults, much less common are vitiligo-sick children of the older age group and adolescents, and even fewer babies. Gender does not matter.

Symptoms

The symptoms of vitiligo photos will best show. Such a process can be described in words as follows: white spots (depigmented areas of the skin) appear on the human body, which can have completely different sizes and shapes, and even merge. They are distributed throughout the body, most often along the arms, legs, face and head (hair is also bleached).

Vitiligo is

It is these spots that are the main symptom of the development of vitiligo. Internal organs remain unchanged, the structure of the skin is not disturbed, the disease is characterized only by a change in the shade of the dermis. As a side effect, only mental disorders can be distinguished, because carriers of the disease experience complexes and suffer because of their appearance (vitiligo, initial stage - photo in the article below).

Diagnostics

To distinguish it from another disease is quite simple, especially to the doctor. White spots on the skin remain normal, that is, there is no itching and peeling, the cover is smooth. Diagnosing the disease is not difficult because the human body becomes a kind of geographic map with unusual figures from discolored areas. Most often localized areas on the face and neck, in the genital area, on the hands, forearms, wrists and knees.

Vitiligo, the initial stage: photo

The causes of the disease

Vitiligo is not a fully understood pathology. Nevertheless, according to a number of studies, doctors managed to draw some conclusions. For example, that of great importance in its occurrence are:

  • previous serious illnesses, especially infectious ones;
  • constant nervous tension;
  • diseases of the internal organs of a chronic course;
  • contact of synthetic fabric and skin;
  • physical injuries;
  • intoxication;
  • heredity.

Many doctors tend to argue that vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, and it is these processes that play a crucial role in the development of pathology. Therefore, an imbalance in the immune system deserves special attention.

Diagnostic studies of patients showed that many of them have insufficient amounts of zinc, copper and iron in the body. Patients also complained of digestive problems.

Interestingly, doctors managed to cure vitiligo by deworming patients. This parasite disrupts the endocrine system, which leads to an insufficient number of elements vital to the body. Therefore, even a harmless (as many believe) helminth can become a provocateur.

Vitiligo: stages of the disease

  1. Initial.
  2. Stable
  3. Progressive.
  4. Repigmentation.

Let's consider them in more detail. There are 4 stages of vitiligo in total. The initial is characterized by the appearance of one spot without pigmentation. The second is a state of stability, that is, the depigmented area does not mutate, but does not disappear. In the stage of progress, the growth of an existing spot and the appearance of new ones begin. Sometimes they grow literally with lightning speed. At the stage of repigmentation, the color of the skin in the affected areas is restored. This can be a consequence of therapy or as an independent phenomenon, which is extremely rare.

Vitiligo reviews

Forms of the disease

They are classified depending on the location of the spots and their size. To date, several basic forms have been derived:

1. Localized:

  • Focal - more common in children, depigmented areas are located in one place.
  • Segmental - foci are surrounded by hyperpigmented skin. Mostly on one half of the body. There are rare cases when a progressive stage occurs or distribution begins outside the selected area.
  • Mucous - spotting in the scrotum or vulva, on the mucous membrane of the lips.

2. Generalized:

  • Mixed - a combination of several forms of vitiligo.
  • Acrofacial - the formation of white spots on the fingers, face and wrists.
  • Vulgar - a large number of foci scattered throughout the body.

3. Universal. It is characterized by the progressive growth of white spots throughout the body and face. Thus, the skin of a person can completely discolor, as well as the hair on the head, eyelashes and eyebrows. Small islands of healthy skin may remain.

Vitiligo: stages

Setton's nevus and post-inflammatory vitiligo are also distinguished. The photo of the first (located above) variety clearly shows what it is. The neoplasm of a red or brownish tint rises slightly above the skin and is surrounded by a depigmented spot. It requires the supervision of a dermatologist, but disappears on its own. The pathology is similar to melanoma, so if the doctor doubts that it is Setton's nevus, surgery is performed to remove this area of ​​the dermis.

Post-inflammatory vitiligo is a consequence of skin diseases. For example, it can occur after eczema, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, or neurodermatitis.

Vitiligo: treatment

This process requires enormous patience, since it takes a very long time, and the result is quite difficult to achieve. There are cases that depigmented spots pass on their own, but this phenomenon is extremely rare.

Initially, the doctor should identify the cause of vitiligo. Treatment depends on her. If there are disturbances in the functioning of the body systems, the doctor directs all forces to eliminate them. A drug that would cure vitiligo has not yet been developed. But therapies do exist.

When the cause has not yet been identified, it makes no sense to treat vitiligo. The initial stage will eventually become progressive, and there will be more depigmented areas. In this case, the effectiveness of drug treatment is observed only in 40%.

It is important at this time to support the patient from the psychological side. Dermatologists prescribe sedatives, because stress and other mental conditions can aggravate the disease. The following is proper nutrition. The doctor makes a diet that will help a person restore metabolism. It is also necessary to improve the condition of the digestive tract. Among the procedures known photochemotherapy. An ointment containing a photosensitizer is applied to the affected areas of the skin, after which these places are exposed to radiation. Additionally, for oral administration:

  • placenta-containing products - there are substances in the composition that contribute to the rapid formation of pigments;
  • Copper-containing drugs help stimulate the production of melanin pigment.

How is treatment prescribed for children?

Vitiligo (the initial stage - photo below) in children is not treated with procedures for the reason that they have very sensitive skin, and any effect can adversely affect the health of the crumbs. Such babies are necessarily under the supervision of a dermatologist.

Vitiligo: photo - primary

Through vitiligo, the body can signal the presence of helminths in it. In this case, treatment is carried out specifically for helminthiasis, as a result of which skin pathology also passes. In other words, as in adults, concomitant disease is exposed to therapy.

Children of older age groups and adolescents can be prescribed: multivitamins (group B, iron and zinc), the effect of ultraviolet radiation on problem areas and copper sulfate. But all this is possible only after examination by a doctor.

Treatment with traditional medicine

When a person realizes that he is developing vitiligo (photo, the initial stage is below), the first thing he thinks about is the treatment with folk remedies, but not about the need to visit a dermatovenerologist. This is the main mistake, because only a qualified specialist can prescribe the only correct therapy. From all that has been written above, we can conclude: vitiligo does not develop just like that - it is the result of some disturbances in the body. And if the systems do not function correctly, in the future this can lead to much more serious problems.

Vitiligo: treatment

There are quite a lot of folk recipes on the Internet, but almost all of them are ineffective in the treatment of vitiligo - reviews confirm this. It is also important to remember that a person who does not have the necessary knowledge can easily confuse this pathology with another.

A crucial role in the treatment of skin disease is played by an integrated approach. A dermatologist draws up an individual therapy plan and directs the patient for analysis, prescribes procedures, taking medications, and sometimes resortes to traditional medicine. In order not to waste time in vain, it is better to immediately contact him for advice.

Treatment prognosis

Repigmentation without treatment occurs in only 5% of cases, and the effectiveness of therapy is noticeable in 20%. Such dynamics can hardly be called positive, but if you approach the process comprehensively, the probability of recovery increases several times. The main thing is to tune in to the result and be patient.

Is it possible to prevent the disease?

The body is unpredictable, but does not think at all that a person can have vitiligo. The best prevention is to monitor nutrition and health. If it is known that there were patients with such skin pathology in the family, it is important to avoid exposure to sunlight (use protective creams with a high level of SPF), follow a diet and eat more foods rich in vitamins and other useful elements.

For a long time, vitiligo remains a poorly understood and difficult to treat disease. But there is always a chance for recovery, and no matter how much time passes, you can not give up and stop therapy.


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