Do You Know If Vitiligo Is Starting? Look For These 5 Warning Signs
New Delhi: Around 2 per cent of the worlds population today has vitiligo, a skin disease that causes loss of skin colour in patches. The discoloured areas become bigger with time and affect the skin on any part of the body. Vitiligo, according to doctors, occurs when cells that produce melanin, known as melanocytes, die or stop functioning, causing skin depigmentation. Even though it affects people of all skin types, it is most noticeable in people with brown or black skin. The ailment is not life-threatening or contagious but can be stressful. What increases your risk of vitiligo? According to health experts, even though the reason behind this ailment is unknown, the condition is not inherited, as many people who have vitiligo do not have a family history. However, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases suggests that genetics can increase the risk. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/vitiligoWarning signs of vitiligo This skin situation can appear at any age and includes Loss of colour Loss of colour happens due to a lack of the pigment melanin in the skin. According to skin specialists, if your skin has begun to change colour, it means there are not enough working melanocytes to produce enough melanin in your skin. It shows white patches on the skin and even hair. Premature whitening of hair Vitiligo, according to Harvard Health, makes your body attack the cells that produce melanin in your skin. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6290285/ It also affects the melanin that gives your hair color and so, those who start having this condition develop patches of white or gray hair where melanin has been lost. Loss of colour of tissues inside the nose Since vitiligo also strikes internally, in areas like the mouth and nose, it causes loss of colour there as well. Doctors say it is possible the retina in the eye could also lose color. Thyroid If you have vitiligo, you may also have had early signs of thyroid problems. According to Medical News Today, thyroid diseases are one of the most commonly associated issues for people with vitiligo, and having this ailment can be an indicator that vitiligo will develop. Non-segmental vitiligo, the most common subtype, is an autoimmune condition that causes more cases of the thyroid. Sometimes the colour comes back No two cases of vitiligo are the same, and whether or not the patches spread depends on the type of vitiligo someone has. Doctors say the treatment of this ailment helps bring colour back to the affected area making it less noticeable, but it wont stop the vitiligo from spreading, or prevent white patches from developing elsewhere. Currently, no cure can stop or reverse vitiligo. However, there are new treatments that can safely and effectively bring pigmentation back in some individuals. Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 8:07 am