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Vitiligo Symptoms & Remedies

When you see white spots on your skin occurring on both sides of the body in the same location, you know for sure it's vitiligo. Vitiligo affects both genders, all races and people of all ages. Causes: When the immune cells of our body attack the melanocytes or the pigmentation cells and kill them, you are infected with vitiligo. These melanocytes then turn white and die. Patients with vitiligo are found to be sensitive to free radicals and need aggressive vitamin therapy. It could also be a genetic disease and sometimes can also be found at the site of an old injury. Symptoms: If you suffer from vitiligo, you first notice white patches (depigmentation) on your skin. These patches are usually on the sun-exposed parts of your body such as the hands, feet, arms, face, lips, armpits, groin, mouth, eyes, nostrils, nave, and genitals. It can appear in any one of three patterns:

• Focal pattern: Here, the depigmentation is seen only in one or a few areas of the body.
• Segmental pattern: If depigmented patches are found on only one side of the body, it is a segmental pattern of vitiligo.
• Generalized pattern: In this form of vitiligo, depigmentation occurs in different parts of the body.

Apart from white patches on the skin, vitiligo patients also grey prematurely at their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows and beard. If one is dark-skinned, he will lose color inside his mouth.

Treatment: Vitiligo is difficult to treat. If detected early, it can be treated in the following ways:

• Exposure to intense ultraviolet light or narrow-band UVB therapy
• Oral medications, such as Trisoralen (trimethylpsoralen)
• Topical medications such as Vitamin D ointment, Tacrolimus ointment, and topical cortisone
• Repigmenting agents such as Oxsoralen (methoxsalen)
• Immunosuppressants such as Elidel (pimecrolimus) and Protopic (tacrolimus)
• Skin may be grafted
• Patients can be given B-complex multivitamin tablets, 1 mg Folic Acid tablets, 600–800 IU of Vitamin E, and 1000 mg ascorbic acid.
• You can also safely use cover-up cosmetics such as Dermablend, Chromelin Complexion Blender and Covermark.

Alternative therapies:

• Sunscreens: Fair skinned people should use sunscreen that provides protection from UVA and UVB forms of ultraviolet light, sunburn, long-term damage and minimizes tanning.
• Counselling and support groups: Patients with vitiligo benefit a lot from counselling from a mental health professional. The counsellor can also offer patients support to cope with their condition.