Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin condition in which your skin loses its colour from several areas on the body leading to the formation of white patches. This condition can occur at any part of the body and can also affect the hair and the inside of the mouth.

The several types of vitiligo are divided based on the location it affects. These include:

• Universal vitiligo – affecting nearly all of the skin surfaces
• Generalised vitiligo – affecting most parts of the body in a symmetrical manner
• Segmental vitiligo – affecting only one side of the body
• Localised vitiligo – affecting only a few areas of the body
• Acrofacial vitiligo – affecting only the face and hands

Vitiligo usually occurs when the pigment-producing cells in the body die or stop producing melanin (the pigment responsible for giving you colour). This process leads to the whitening of patches. There is no exact reason why the pigment-producing cells die. Researches believe it can be related to the following:

• An autoimmune disease
• Family history
• Skin trauma

Your treatment protocol depends upon your age, the amount of skin involved, the extremity of symptoms and the pace at which the disease is progressing. Common treatment methods include:

• Medication
• Light therapy
• Depigmentation
• Surgical skin grafting