DEALING WITH VITILIGO

VITILIGO is a skin condition in which there is a loss of pigment from areas of the skin, resulting in irregular patches that feel like normal skin. it occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation die or are unable to function. The cause of vitiligo is unknown , but research suggest that it may asrise from:

• AUTOIMMUNE CAUSES
• GENETIC CAUSES
• OXIDATIVE CAUSES
• NEURAL CAUSES
• VIRAL CAUSES 

prevalence worldwide is less than  1-2%and the average age of onset is 20 years!, though its commonly observed in age 10-30, occurrence in the age and new born is rare. it has been noticed more in females.

TYPES

Vitiligo is classified into segmental and non segmerntal types, though non segmental causes is the most common form.

• NON SEGMENTAL VITILIGO: This is usually characterized by some form of symmetry in the location of the patches of depigmentation. New patches occurs over time and can be generalized over large portions of the body or localized to a particular area. this kind of vitiligo occurs at any age unlike segmental vitiligo,which is far more prevalent in the teenage years vitiligo universalis is a case which is synonymous with almost complete depigmentation of the entire body
  subclasses of nonsegmental vitiligo include:
  
  1. generalized vitiligo
  2. universal vitiligo
  3. focal vitiligo
  4. acrofacial vitiligo
  5. mucosal vitiligo
  SEGMENTAL VITILIGO: this differs in appearance , causes and prevalence from associated illnesses. its treatment is different from that of NSV. it tend to affect the skin surrounding the dorsal roots of the spine. it spreads much more rapidly than NSV and without treatment its  much more stable in course and not associated with auto immune diseases and also respond to topical treatment  

• SIGNS AND SYMPTOM: The most notable symptom of vitiligo is depignmentation of skin around the extremities,  the patches which are usually small in onset expands and change shapes. when skin lesions occur they are usually on the face hand and wrist. depigmentation is usually noticed around orifices, such as nose, mouth, genitals and umbilicus  

   TREATMENT:
  Though no single medical therapy produce good result in all patient, there are different line of treatment.
  
  • systemic photo-therapy
  • laser therapy
  • topical therapy
  • depigmentation therapy