Vitiligo Research Paper
Vitiligo
History & Overview:
Vitiligo is a condition in which white patches develop on the skin. Any location on the body can be affected and most people with vitiligo have white patches on many areas of the body.
Vitiligo is a disease that was observed very early in history, and most ancient civilizations and religions had some type of reference about lack of pigmentation. One of the earliest terms was "Kilas" in the Rig Veda, which was meant as similar to a white spotted deer.
Melanin is the pigment that gives the skin its characteristic color. Vitiligo is caused by a loss of pigment in the skin, due to destruction of pigment-forming cells known as melanocytes. The exact cause of the destruction of these cells is not known. …show more content…
In most cases, vitiligo develops early in life, between the ages of 10 and 30 years. Ninety-five percent of those affected will develop the disorder before age 40. Both men and women are equally likely to develop vitiligo. Vitiligo may run in families; those with a family history of vitiligo or premature graying of the hair are at increased risk for the development of vitiligo. Other risk factors that increase one 's chances of developing vitiligo include having autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid …show more content…
There is no known way to prevent or cure vitiligo. However, several methods, including cosmetics, re-pigmentation using UV light therapy, corticosteroid creams, depigmentation of unaffected skin areas, and skin grafting, can be used to improve the appearance of skin severely affected by vitiligo.
Prognosis:
In some patients, regardless of treatment, the repigmentation is slow and never may be complete, especially of the fingertips, feet, bony prominences like elbows, wrist, lips, genitals etc.
In others, as in Michael Jackson, irrespective of treatment, the vitiligo progresses to turn the skin white all over the body, leaving islands of pigmented skin at places. In such cases, the vitiligo patients opt for bleaching out the pigmented normal skin so that the skin becomes uniformly white to give satisfactory cosmetic appearance. This is how Michael Jackson turned white.
In many patients, especially in those with involvement of limited area of skin with proper treatment, the patients recover with full repigmentation.
The treatment of vitiligo associated diseases like thyroiditis does not have any effect on the course of the vitiligo.
History & Overview:
Vitiligo is a condition in which white patches develop on the skin. Any location on the body can be affected and most people with vitiligo have white patches on many areas of the body.
Vitiligo is a disease that was observed very early in history, and most ancient civilizations and religions had some type of reference about lack of pigmentation. One of the earliest terms was "Kilas" in the Rig Veda, which was meant as similar to a white spotted deer.
Melanin is the pigment that gives the skin its characteristic color. Vitiligo is caused by a loss of pigment in the skin, due to destruction of pigment-forming cells known as melanocytes. The exact cause of the destruction of these cells is not known. …show more content…
In most cases, vitiligo develops early in life, between the ages of 10 and 30 years. Ninety-five percent of those affected will develop the disorder before age 40. Both men and women are equally likely to develop vitiligo. Vitiligo may run in families; those with a family history of vitiligo or premature graying of the hair are at increased risk for the development of vitiligo. Other risk factors that increase one 's chances of developing vitiligo include having autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid …show more content…
There is no known way to prevent or cure vitiligo. However, several methods, including cosmetics, re-pigmentation using UV light therapy, corticosteroid creams, depigmentation of unaffected skin areas, and skin grafting, can be used to improve the appearance of skin severely affected by vitiligo.
Prognosis:
In some patients, regardless of treatment, the repigmentation is slow and never may be complete, especially of the fingertips, feet, bony prominences like elbows, wrist, lips, genitals etc.
In others, as in Michael Jackson, irrespective of treatment, the vitiligo progresses to turn the skin white all over the body, leaving islands of pigmented skin at places. In such cases, the vitiligo patients opt for bleaching out the pigmented normal skin so that the skin becomes uniformly white to give satisfactory cosmetic appearance. This is how Michael Jackson turned white.
In many patients, especially in those with involvement of limited area of skin with proper treatment, the patients recover with full repigmentation.
The treatment of vitiligo associated diseases like thyroiditis does not have any effect on the course of the vitiligo.