Vitiligo is a disease caused by the destruction of pigment cells

It appears as white, clear-edged rings that can appear anywhere, but in Thais, it is most commonly found on the tips of the hands, feet, and around the mouth, and can spread if left untreated.

The exact cause of vitiligo is still unknown. Patients are generally healthy, but it can be more common in hyperthyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, adrenal gland diseases, and alopecia.

Vitiligo is usually not harmful to the overall health of the patient, except in some cases where the disease is extensive, there is a high chance of skin cancer in the affected area if exposed to a lot of sunlight.

Vitiligo Treatment

There are many ways to treat it, but the results depend on the severity and location of the condition, such as:

• Topical treatment such as steroids and tacrolimus may be used in patients with mild, non-extensive disease.
• Sunlight therapy requires patients to come to the hospital for radiation therapy at least twice a week and requires 1-2 years of treatment.
• Pigment cell transplantation may be useful in patients with mild disease and areas where radiation therapy is ineffective.
• Use of cosmetics to conceal lesions, used in areas that do not respond to treatment

Who does vitiligo affect?

Vitiligo affects all races and sexes equally. It’s more visible in people with darker skin tones. Although vitiligo can develop in anyone at any age, macules or patches usually become apparent before age 30.

You might be at a higher risk of developing vitiligo if you have certain autoimmune conditions like

• Addison’s disease.
• Anemia.
• Diabetes (Type 1)
• Lupus.
• Psoriasis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Thyroid disease.

How common is vitiligo?

Vitiligo occurs in over 1% of the population throughout the world.

How does vitiligo start and progress?

Vitiligo usually starts with a few small white macules or patches that may gradually spread over your body. Vitiligo typically begins on your hands, เล่นบาคาร่า UFABET เว็บตรง ค่าคอมสูง forearms, feet and face, but can develop on any part of your body, including your mucous membranes (the moist lining of your mouth, nose, genital and rectal areas), your eyes and inner ears.

Sometimes, larger patches continue to widen and spread, but they usually stay in the same place for years. The location of smaller macules shifts and changes over time, as certain areas of skin lose and regain their pigment.

The amount of affected skin varies for each person diagnosed with vitiligo. Some people experience a few depigmented areas, while others have a widespread loss of skin color.