Things To Know About Vitiligo And Treatment

Neha Chaudhari
4 min readJun 10, 2022

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Vitiligo is a permanent skin condition in which patches of skin appear white due to the lack of melanin, the pigmentation that gives skin, hair, and eyes color. This skin condition can affect any area of the skin but is commonly found on the face, neck, and hands. When an individual suffers from vitiligo, the melanocytes are destroyed, resulting in the formation of irregularly shaped white patches on the skin. This typically occurs before the age of 20, and in around 20 percent of cases, the individual has other family members also living with the condition. One can visit Dr. Nivedita Dadu, the Best Dermatologist in Delhi to get effective treatment for vitiligo at her clinic, Dr. Nivedita Dadu’s Dermatology Clinic.

Here is a list of a few things to know about vitiligo discussed by Dr. Nivedita Dadu, a Vitiligo Doctor In Delhi:

1. The fundamental cause of vitiligo is under research

Though it is well known that vitiligo occurs due to the deficiency of melanin, it is not concluded what causes this devitalization. At present, the best explanations have to do with immune system impairment, heredity, and environmental triggers such as chemicals, stress, and ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is widely believed that vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s antibodies attack these melanocytes. As they are destroyed, that affected area of skin cannot create pigment, resulting in consequential white patches on the skin.

Many people who suffer from vitiligo also suffer from other diseases such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the notion that it is indeed an autoimmune condition is supported. These may not be causes of vitiligo, but they appear to be key factors in determining its development.

2. Vitiligo is not transmissible

There is no way to catch vitiligo from another infected person, so there is no reason to worry about getting it from someone else. Similarly, if you have vitiligo, you do not have to be overly cautious in public.

3. There is more than one type of vitiligo

There are two main types of vitiligo, which are characterized by their developing speed, origin, symmetry, and location. These two types of vitiligo: are segmental and non-segmental vitiligo. Non-segmental vitiligo generally appears symmetrically on both sides of the body. Non-segmental vitiligo tends to come in outbursts, as the skin immediately loses pigmentation, then stops for some time before starting again.

Segmental vitiligo usually covers a smaller area and develops at an earlier age. This type is asymmetrical and only affects one segment of the body.

4. Vitiligo usually develops prematurely in life

Vitiligo symptoms can start developing at any stage of life, but a majority of people with vitiligo encounter pigmentation changes between the ages of 10 and 30. A person rarely develops vitiligo after the age of 40, though it is possible. If one is experiencing vitiligo that is affecting their aesthetics and skin health they can consult Dr. Nivedita Dadu, the Best Dermatologist in Delhi For Skin at Dr. Nivedita Dadu’s Dermatology Clinic.

5. Symptoms of vitiligo

Vitiligo is exhibited as white patches on the skin such as the face and neck, skin creases, fingers, toes, armpits, navel, groin, and genitals. It can also be the situation that which the condition affects the skin that has gone through trauma such as lacerations or burns, including sunburn. Vitiligo can appear as a single patch or multiple arrays, and these can change shape and expand over time.

6. Vitiligo can affect areas other than the skin as well

While vitiligo is mainly a skin condition, it can also affect other parts of the body such as the eyes, mucosal membrane or linings, and hair.

7. Vitiligo is not a deadly condition, but it can be harmful

Vitiligo is mainly a cosmetic concern and is not life-threatening by any means. Despite that, certain situations and difficulties can cause damage. For example, if vitiligo spreads to the eyes, it can affect vision by means of eye inflammation. Similarly, vitiligo may lead to hearing damage if it spreads near the ear canal. Furthermore, vitiligo patients may be a higher chance of sunburn and skin cancer. Finally, vitiligo can cause a lot of stress from its potential impact on social interactions, leading to mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

8. Vitiligo can be managed

Some methods and treatment are available at Dr. Nivedita Dadu’s Dermatology Clinic for managing vitiligo. Dr. Nivedita Dadu, prescribes topical vitiligo treatments as the initial line of treatment, but if this is ineffectual, the individual may be prescribed with phototherapy and other treatments.

The advanced treatments include:

· Anti-inflammatory topical creams and corticosteroids.

· Immunosuppressant medications and ointments with calcineurin inhibitors.

· Light therapy and photochemotherapy, including laser treatment.

· Skin grafting surgery to replace skin that has lost pigment..

· Micropigmentation or tattooing of the skin to duplicate and match skin pigment

· Split Thickness Skin Grafting (STSG) (tissue grafting)- This technique involves the transplantation of a sheet of the epidermis with some part of the upper dermis to the recipient area.

· Melanocyte Transfer (cellular grafting)- In this process, a thick kin graft is harvested from a suitable donor area and this is treated with an enzyme. The different cellular components of an STSG are separated and a suspension is prepared out of these cellular components. The suspension contains epidermal keratinocytes and melanocytes. After the recipient bed is created, the cell suspension is spread thinly and evenly with a spatula onto the dermabraded recipient skin.

Many people living with the condition choose to cover vitiligo either with clothing or with camouflage makeup, depending on its location. Those affected by this condition should also take extra care in the sun, covering up with SPF along with protective hats and clothing. Nowadays, various vitiligo treatment alternatives are available.

If one is experiencing vitiligo and looking for an effective treatment, they can consult the Best skin Specialist in Delhi at Dr. Nivedita Dadu’s Dermatology Clinic.

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Neha Chaudhari
Neha Chaudhari

Written by Neha Chaudhari

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