Vitiligo
Vitiligo general skin condition which affects about 2% of the world population. It normally starts from small white patches on skin, in most of cases those parts which are remain open to sun like hand, arms, cheeks, eye lids and feet etc. A common symptom of vitiligo is the white patches of depigmentation. These white patches appear due to the destruction of the melanocytes cell which are responsible for the pigmentation in skin.
In most of the cases vitiligo appears before age twenty and this ratio is about fifty percent of all patients of vitiligo. Vitiligo is neither infectious nor causes any pain in body except sunburn on affecting part while exposed to sun, but can lead to psychological distress because of its unsightly appearance.
Vitiligo Causes
Till today dermatologist could not understand quite the origin of vitiligo, but some hypothesis also exist about it. One say that it is autoimmunity, an anti body produced in the skin destroys its own pigment producing cell melanocytes.
Pigmentation of Skin
The pigmentation is the addition of pigments in some areas of the skin or simply the coloration of the skin. Our skin color is due to the melanin. Melanin is a pigmenting substance in the skin.
Melanocytes, melanin and depigmentation
As I already mentioned above that Melanin is a dark pigment (of skin) produced by melanocytes (skin cells) and is responsible for skin color. Its characteristics are generally genetic in nature and sunlight also affects the amount of melanin in the skin. For a better understanding about it, Albinism may be considered. Albinism is a pigmentation disorder. Unlike vitiligo, it is present from birth and leads to a general lack of melanin in the skin, hair, hair and eyes.
