Have a Nice Day
Vitiligo views
Dr Rubaiul Murshed
All health information to keep you up to date
Vitiligo is a skin condition characterised by white patches resulting from the loss of skin's pigment, known as 'melanocyte'. Any part of the body may be affected. Vitiligo is a relatively common disease; about 2 percent of the world's population have vitiligo problem, and over half of these people develop it before their 40th birthday, most between the ages of 10 and 30. References to vitiligo patches are mentioned in ancient Chinese and Greek writings. The disorder affects all races and both sexes equally. This disease may be due to several factors. Abnormally functioning nerve cells may produce toxic substances, which injure melanocytes. Pigment producing cells may self-destruct. There may be a genetic effect that makes melanocytes susceptible to injury. Some researchers have found that the body's imbalanced immune system may destroy melanocytes; although it could be in people without having any autoimmune disorders. These autoimmune disorders include hyperthyroidism (an overactive or underactive thyroid gland), adrenocortical insufficiency (the adrenal gland does not produce enough of the hormone called corticosteroid) , alopecia areata (patches of baldness), and pernicious anemia (a low level of red blood cells caused by failure of the body to absorb vitamin B12). Even though it's true that vitiligo is not fatal, and that it has no other physical symptoms, but the emotional and sometimes (if it is exposed) social effects of vitiligo are well-known. If a doctor suspects that a person has vitiligo, he or she usually begins by asking the person about his or her medical history and should assure him/her about the latest rewarding results. The doctor needs to know whether the patient or anyone in the patient's family has had any autoimmune disorders and whether the patient is very sensitive to the sun. The doctor will then examine the patient to rule out other medical problems. This is true that vitiligo is not easy to treat -- but in the past few years, more treatments options are available than ever before and that are working better. And even though results can take time, this can be treated. Treatment can take time from six months up to years. Where you don't see good results with one treatment, another may work better. In addition to the traditional therapies such as the PUVA and steroid creams, new technologies have been developed, including narrow-band UVB, Pseudocatalase cream, excimer lasers, skin grafting and pigment transplantation, topical psoralens, and potentially, the use of immunomodulators. According to many researchers, usually there is no one treatment that works for everyone.
|
|
