Vitiligo, found in 1% of people in the world, is a skin condition like psoriasis and eczema. The cells responsible for skin color in individuals with vitiligo disease are calculated. When these cells, called melanocytes, are damaged, they cease to produce pigment for the skin. THIS pigment is called melanin. If sufficient amount of melanin cannot be produced in the skin, that part of the skin loses its color and appears lighter than other skin areas.
Where is Vitiligo seen?
Areas of color loss are all over the body. can be seen on site. However, especially:
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Areas exposed to sunlight: Hands, forearms and face areas
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Intraoral mucosa areas
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Wings of the nose
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Genital area
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Behind the eye
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In some extreme cases, even the patient's hair may turn gray or white.
Vitiligo can affect different parts of the body at the same time. Vitiligo, like psoriasis and eczema, is not transmitted from person to person.
What are the symptoms of vitiligo?
The first symptom of vitiligo is white spots on the skin surface. It can appear on any area of the body, including around the eyes. These spots can be small or large in size.
If there are regional symptoms: If the white areas are in a certain area or in the form of sporadic spots, they generally remain constant in that area. It usually lasts for 1-2 years and then disappears. Cases spread throughout the body are very rare.
If there are widespread symptoms: If the white areas are spread symmetrically throughout the body, there is melanocyte damage in most of the skin cells throughout the body. This is the form commonly seen in society. It usually continues in the form of flares and remissions throughout the person's life. It is not possible to predict when it will start and when it will end.
What are the factors that increase the risk of vitiligo?
It is not known exactly what causes vitiligo. It is not thought to be transmitted in a familial manner because most vitiligo patients do not have any vitiligo patients in their families. However, the presence of autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and eczema It increases the risk of vitiligo.
In addition, the presence of NLRP1 and PTPN22 genes also increases the person's risk of vitiligo.
According to most researchers, vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. Because vitiligo, just like psoriasis and eczema, occurs as a result of the body's defense cells destroying its own skin cells. However, it is not yet understood what causes this attack mechanism.
Looking at the general population, in addition to vitiligo patients
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Scleroderma (a disorder in the body's connective tissue)
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Lupus
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Thyroiditis
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Psoriasis
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Regional baldness (alopecia areata )
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Type 1 diabetes
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Vitamin B12 deficiency
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Addison disease
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Rheumatoid arthritis may occur.
Some experts have stated that vitiligo develops after the following events.
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Extensive sunburn
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Deep skin incisions
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Toxin exposure
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Chemical damage
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High stress level
What are the complications of vitiligo?
Vitiligo has very few physiological side effects. The most serious complication is loss of function that may occur if seen in the eyes and ears. Apart from this, the skin area affected by vitiligo becomes more susceptible to sunburn. Patients should be careful in this regard.
Psychological side effects are common.
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Avoid going out in public
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Depression
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Canceling activities
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Anxiety
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Emotional depression It is common.
If vitiligo patients have some of the psychological symptoms listed above, they should definitely consult their doctor. Group therapy also helps overcome these problems.
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