Vitiligo - A Non Contagious And Painless Skin Disorder

It knows no racial boundaries and affects men and women. Vitiligo also known as leukoderma, is a skin disorder caused by the loss of pigment-producing cells in the skin. This results in the formation of white spots and patches on the skin. Vitiligo can affect any part of the body where there is pigment. That is a reason why patches of hair turns white. The affected skin can turn lighten or become completely white. It is more noticeable in dark-skinned people. By statistics, it is said to affect 2 percent of the population. Vitiligo is neither physically painful or contagious but can cause emotional and psychological distress to those affected, especially when it spreads to the face. 

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The exact cause is still unknown, although experts believed it is an autoimmune condition where an individual immune system reacts against his body own tissues. This condition varies from person to person, with some patients the conditions never progresses beyond the appearance of one patch. With others, however, it spreads over the body quickly.

Common signs and symptoms of vitiligo is depigmentation (loss of color). This can occur in any part of the body such as skin, hair (eyelid or scalp), eye balls, inside the mouth, inside the nose, back, face and genitals.

While there are no known ways to prevent or cure vitiligo, there are many ways of dealing with it. Some of such methods are;

*. The use of cosmetics (skin camouflage cream)

*. The use of ultraviolet equipment

*. Depigmentation of the affected area, that is to even out the skin tone by destroying the remaining pigment-producing cells with the use of medication.

Vitiligo is more noticeable in light-skinned patients when the unaffected body areas are sun tanned, hence it is advised that less exposure to the sun will make it less noticeable.

Remember vitiligo is not caused by an infection and you cannot contact it from touching someone who has it. It doesn't spread from person to person or by any other means whether air or water. So never stigmatize anyone with such condition. Infact they need support, love and understanding. Anyone with vitiligo should not allow the condition deter him or her from doing regular normal activities. This entails associating with others freely and also learning to accept your appearance.