What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo or leukoderma is a skin condition characterized by the appearance of white patches or blotches on the skin that can appear on any part of the body; this is as a result of the death of the (melanocytes) cells that produce our skin pigment (Melanin). The condition can vary from just one or two white spots to large areas of completely de-pigmented skin. When the melanocytes die, the cells that form the skin appear white, and this causes what is now known as Vitiligo.

The disease is more common in people who have a family history of certain auto immune diseases such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism and Addison's disease. For some people, although not for everyone, the de-colorization is progressive in that what may start out as a little white blemish on the skin, over time can enlarge to cover many inches or whole body parts, particularly the hands and feet, to eventually give the appearance of wearing white socks or gloves. The patches often occur symmetrically across both sides on the body, at the same time.

In some cases, physical injury to an area of skin seems to cause new outbreaks .Doctors have noted that wounds that form scabs, when the wound heals, the new skin will be de-pigmented. Physician's state Vitiligo may also be stress related, excess stress which can affect the immune system, leading the body to react, the immune system erroneously perceives the skin pigment as a threat and starts to attack it.

Vitiligo on the head may affect the color of the hair, though not always, leaving white patches or streaks. It will similarly affect body and facial hair. As with all auto immune diseases Vitiligo is not contagious, it affects only 1% to 2% of the population. There are treatments that can impair, some what the spread of the disease, or it can be disguised with medicated makeup. Darker skinned people, on whom the problem is significantly more noticeable, often opt for the removal of all skin color entirely to make the contrast less obvious, one such person is Michael Jackson. At present unfortunately there is really no cure for the condition.

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