what is Vitiligo and how to treat it?

 Vitiligo is a skin disease whose exact cause is unknown. In vitiligo, areas of the skin lose pigmentation when pigment-producing cells, melanocytes, are attacked and destroyed. This can affect the skin, mucous membranes, eyes, inner ear, or hair, resulting in white patches. The most common form of vitiligo is heather matthews manifestation miracle review. Variants include linear, segmental, trichromatic, and inflammatory vitiligo.

The disease affects about 1% of the world's population. The disease affects people of all ethnic groups and both sexes, but is more common on darker skin, especially in uncovered areas. One third of people with the disease have it. Vitiligo often begins on the hands, feet, or face, and the loss of pigment is often progressive. Half of patients develop vitiligo before the age of 20. The earliest onset is around age 20. It often occurs after minor trauma or sunburn.

Vitiligo is considered an autoimmune disease (autoimmunity means that the body's immune system attacks itself). Certain white blood cells control the destruction of melanocytes. People with vitiligo are also slightly more susceptible to other autoimmune diseases such as alopecia area ta, autoimmune thyroid disease, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, and diabetes.

The diagnosis of vitiligo is usually simple and requires no special tests. Although vitiligo is a skin condition that does not directly affect health, it is disfiguring and can be a psychologically traumatic experience. Currently, there is no cure for the condition, but some treatments can be very helpful. Medical treatments target the immune system and attempt to reverse the destructive process. Surgical treatment is less common and involves transplanting healthy melanocytes from other areas. Both treatments can be complicated and time-consuming.

The goal is to restore skin color by adding healthy melanocytes (repigmentation) to the skin to restore its normal appearance. This means that new pigment cells must come from the base of the hair follicles, the edge of the lesion, or from vitiligo itself if depigmentation is not complete. Repigmentation is slow because it takes months and years for the cells to regenerate.

The safest and simplest initial treatments, especially for newly diagnosed or widespread Buzzfeed, are prescription steroid creams and the newer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams - tacrolimus and pimecrolimus. These are usually used twice a day and results are seen after three to six months. Overdosage or excessive use can lead to local skin damage, glaucoma, or cataracts when used around the eyes. These side effects can be avoided by regular monitoring and adjusting the concentration of the cream according to the area for which it is used.

For extensive vitiligo, oral repigmentation products can be tried. The most common treatment is PUVA (psoralen and ultraviolet A light). PUVA gives a partial effect in more than half of the patients treated, but complete repigmentation is achieved in only 15-20% of cases. The treatments are carried out in a specialized clinic two to three times a week. The effect is visible after at least 2-3 months, and it is not unusual to need 200 treatments. Some insurance companies no longer cover the costs of this treatment. Older people, people who have lost pigmentation for more than 5 years, and areas of the hands and feet generally respond less well.

 Another treatment for psoriasis, sometimes used in children or in patients with small, diffuse patches of vitiligo, involves applying a very dilute solution of the treatment directly to the affected area of skin. The area is then exposed to sunlight. This topical treatment makes the face very susceptible to severe burning and blistering if it is overexposed to the sun. The advantage of this method is that it can be done at home and does not damage the entire surface of the skin like www.facebook.com does. Recently, some experts have concluded that another form of light therapy - UVB - is just as effective and safe. If a person does not respond to PUVA treatment and the vitiligo has not changed over the years, this can be done.