Vitiligo, which comes from the Latin word "vitelius", is also known as calico disease or ala disease among the people. The skin disease, which causes the formation of white spots and patches with a milky white color on the skin, can occur at different ages. While it is seen in different sizes in each individual, it can occur in any part of the body. Since it directly affects the physical appearance, it can negatively affect the psychology of the individual.
What is Vitiligo?
Cells responsible for producing pigments that give color to the skin are called melanocytes. In case of damage to melanocyte cells, pigment production is minimized. As a result of this change in the body, large and small white spots with clear borders are formed; We call it vitiligo.
While the disease, which manifests itself as the formation of white spots on the skin, progresses in different dimensions in each patient, the treatment processes of the patients can be different from each other. Vitiligo can be segmental or non-segmental. Segmental vitiligo occurs mostly in childhood, is limited to a certain skin area (dermatome), appears suddenly, is unilateral; Although it has the advantage of low risk of spreading to the body, the limited skin area where it occurs is difficult to treat.
Segmental vitiligo is a form that needs to be diagnosed and treated early. Unfortunately, if the treatment is delayed, it may remain stable for years. Non-segmental vitiligo is a type of vitiligo that is not limited to a specific skin area and can occur anywhere on the hand, foot, face or body.
What are the Symptoms of Vitiligo?
Symptoms that usually manifest themselves when patients come into contact with sunlight, usually appear at the age of 2-3 in children. While the disease can be noticed earlier in women due to the structure of the skin, it appears much more prominently in the hands, feet, arms, face and lips, that is, in areas where the skin is exposed to the sun.
White spot disease, which manifests itself as a sudden whitening of a spot on the skin, can also be seen in the genital area. The disease can start as a small white spot or as a larger spot on any part of the body. While the symptoms of the disease are more easily noticed in dark-skinned people, light-skinned people This situation becomes more difficult for patients and patients may notice this situation after tanning in the summer months.
Although vitiligo disease, which is seen due to pigment deficiency, is caused by the deterioration of the skin due to genetic factors, the tissues that support the formation of pigment in the skin can be damaged after stress, febrile diseases, sunburns and severe traumas.
Vitiligo Cause Does it happen?
Although the formation of the disease is caused by a combination of many reasons, it mostly occurs as a result of "autoimmune mechanism" (autoimmune mechanism is the damage of the person's immune system to its own cells). Therefore, vitiligo; It can be seen together with other autoimmune diseases such as pernicious anemia (anemia), type I diabetes (diabetes), Hashimoto's thyroid (goiter disease), psoriasis.
In vitiligo, the person's immune system damages and destroys the melanocytes that produce pigment cells. The skin area where the melanocytes are damaged loses its color and turns into a white spot.
Do Genetic Factors Affect Vitiligo Disease?
These white spots, which can appear all over the body, may increase depending on the condition of the disease, while in some patients they can be very severe. few obvious color changes may occur. Depending on technological developments, with the advancement of science, a wide variety of treatment methods are applied in the medical world and the vast majority of treatments are hope for patients.
Bleaching disease, which is likely to be encountered at a rate of 0.5-2% worldwide, can be seen around 0.15-0.32% in our country. The incidence of vitiligo, which starts with whitening of the skin, is equal in men and women. In this context, gender is not a factor that reduces or increases the risk of developing the disease.
Vitiligo can occur in any age group, and genetic factors are also a significant factor in the occurrence of the disease. While it is observed that 30% of patients have a family member with this disease, it usually occurs at the age of 20 or younger. Vitiligo, which is more common in people with black skin and those living in Morocco and Yemen, can rarely occur in infants and the elderly.
It is estimated that vitiligo disease in infants is congenital Situations in which the disease occurs even after birth take their place in the medical literature. Early diagnosis of the disease significantly affects the positive results of the treatment and the return of the skin to its own color by stopping the progression of vitiligo.
How to Diagnose Vitiligo?
The diagnosis of vitiligo can be made by examining white spots and normal-appearing skin areas with wood light after white spots are seen on examination. In vitiligo, white spots increase with wood light examination, and even in normal-appearing skin, white spots may appear with wood light. Mostly, examination and wood light examination are sufficient for diagnosis. Sometimes it may be necessary to make a pathological diagnosis with a skin biopsy. Blood tests can be done to investigate the presence of other autoimmune diseases.
What are the Vitiligo Treatment Methods?
The aim of vitiligo treatment is to restore the skin to its former color. Light therapy (phototherapy, excimer laser) to stimulate the melanocytes that give color to the skin, antioxidants to reduce oxidant stress, to reduce autoimmunity.
Methods that will turn white spots back to their original color are used in the treatment of vitiligo, which is not an infectious disease. It is possible to achieve high success in the methods used, depending on the personal situation of the patients and the importance they attach to the treatment. For the treatment of vitiligo, the diagnosis is made as a result of the dermatological examination Wood's lamp examination. The response of patients to treatment may differ according to their constitution.
The following are among the vitiligo treatment methods used;
- Vitiligo treatment drugs
- If the lesions are very common, the application called phototherapy and popularly known as ultraviolet light therapy
- Excimer laser applications
- Stopping pigment loss that causes skin lightening with vitiligo cream
- Cortisone treatment applied systemically
- Immune suppressor,
- Khellin therapy for the treatment, control and prevention of symptoms,
- Combined and alternating treatments specially programmed according to the course of the disease
- Coloring the problematic areas of the skin with the tattoo method Giving
- A method called depigmentation also opening the skin
- In order to prevent further darkening of the skin and to prevent the increase of cells that affect disease formation, effective protection of the person from the sun's rays
How is the Treatment Process of Vitiligo Will it progress?
Vitiligo, a disease related to the immune system, is among the diseases that are difficult to predict and prevent. Although vitiligo is a non-fatal disease that does not cause serious disturbance to the functioning of the body, it is among the diseases that cause patients to experience emotional depression psychologically. It significantly changes the appearance and physical condition, paving the way for the individual to experience psychological problems. The fact that the disease is not very common can make it difficult for individuals to understand the situation they are in.
Especially the onset of vitiligo can be painful for the patient. Although it causes discomfort during the adaptation phase to the disease and negatively affects the mood range of individuals, individuals can have a chance to return to their former state after a good treatment.
When early diagnosis is made, an important and significant step is taken for the treatment of the disease. By preparing the necessary treatment plan by specialist physicians, the disease can be brought under control and visible improvements are recorded in the patients.
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