Vitiligo

Vitiligo, also known as albinismvitiligo is a skin disorder characterised by a loss of pigment, leading to the appearance of white patches on the skin. Vitiligo is a dermatological condition that affects children as well as adults. Although it is not painful, it can significantly affect the patient's psyche and self-esteem. The condition can appear at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed in people between 10 and 30 years of age.

Vitiligo - causes

The causes of vitiligo can vary. Congenital vitiligo is caused by genetic factors. The development of vitiligo can also occur due to disorders of the immune and nervous systems. Discolouration on the skin may appear due to the destruction of melanin-producing cells. If this is the case, it is referred to as acquired vitiligo.

Vitiligo - symptoms

Characteristic symptom of vitiligo are symmetrical chalk-white patches - clearly demarcated from the rest of the skin. The lesions are located in various places on the body and arise from a disruption of melanogenesis. Bleaching stains (a.k.a. depigmentation spots or discolouration spots), are not painful or cause itching. 

Vitiligo - treatment

Treatment of vitiligo usually includes light therapy and the use of topical medications (for example, glucocorticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors). In some patients, doctors also implement laser therapywhich reduces the visibility of depigmentation spots. Know, however, that the treatment of this condition is lengthy and not always fully effective.