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The Vitiligo Condition

Posted by Admin on November 25, 2014 in Treating Vitiligo, Vitiligo FAQs, Vitiligo Information

The Vitiligo condition is an autoimmune condition that causes skin depigmentation.

An autoimmune disorder is a condition in which a person’s immune system reacts against the body’s own tissues and organs attacking and destroying them.

In the case of Vitiligo, the immune system attacks and damages or destroys melanocytes. Melanocytes are specialized skin cells who’s function is to produce melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives the skin its natural color.

The Vitiligo Condition

Vitiligo is caused by the skins melanocytes been destroyed by the body’s immune system. This occurs when pigment is destroyed as the body responds to a substance it perceives as foreign inside it. Abnormally functioning nerve cells may produce toxic substances that injure melanocytes causing them to self-destruct.

The appearance of the Vitiligo Condition

Patients with Vitiligo will notice the appearance of white spots or patches on their skin.  Vitiligo patients retain their normal texture and the sensation of the skin. With Vitiligo there is also no scaling of the skin.

Vitiligo needs to be differentiated from other skin discolorations, including tinea alba and versicolor which is caused by a fungus in order for patients to get the correct treatment.

Vitiligo appears as patterned and symmetrical. In some patients the spots match on both extremities like a mirror-image.

Patients will find that the condition will remain static for years and sometimes it will spread rapidly over a short period.

Causes of Vitiligo Stress  can both trigger and worsen Vitiligo.

Vitiligo can sometimes passed from one generation to another. A study of twins showed that both identical twins are more likely to develop the disease than both non-identical twins.

Vitiligo appears to be not only polygenic (a genetic defect that make melanocytes susceptible to injury) but also multi-factorial. This means that there are other factors that work in combination and cause the disease.

The Vitiligo Condition

These factors may for instance include the body’s immune system that may destroy melanocytes. Abnormally functioning nerve cells that may produce toxic substances that injure melanocytes. Production of toxic by-products that could injure and destroy melanocytes while pigment is forming. Lastly, environmental factors, such as infections or damage to the skin.

Vitiligo assessment

Vitiligo Treatment will answer any questions you have about your Vitiligo. Including how it may have started, and what the probable outcome will be going forward. Please complete our free Vitiligo assessment. One of our trained consultants will assess your condition and give you feedback to assist you.  They offer you answers for the most appropriate treatment for your particular condition.

The Vitiligo condition itself is not inherited however the disposition to have it can be inherited. It is usually a combination of genes that may be the critical factor plus some outside stimulus that starting it.

In future a deeper knowledge of the genes involved in the Vitiligo condition will benefit patients. Researchers will have the knowledge to do genetic testing to predict individuals that are predisposed to Vitiligo thus they are forewarned. This knowledge will be used to ensure those individuals take care and avoid environmental risk factors in order to prevent the onset of Vitiligo.

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Published by Vitiligo Treatment.

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