1. Here's What it is
Vitiligo is a skin condition that affects the melanin, or the stuff that gives skin its color, and it afflicts men and women of all races. It generally presents somewhere between the ages of 20 and 30 years old and usually starts on areas of the body that are routinely exposed to the sun such as the face, arms and feet. Vitiligo looks like patches of white skin and can spread to all parts of the body, including hair, which can turn white or grey. Sometimes Vitiligo stops as suddenly as it starts or it progresses until most of the body experiences a loss of pigment, turning almost completely white.
2. Serious Treatment
People with extreme Vitiligo can have surgical treatments. There are three different procedures used to correct the condition. One is skin grafting, in which the surgeon transfers skin with healthy pigmentation from one area to another area that's affected by Vitiligo. Another surgical procedure is blister grafting. This process involves causing blisters on areas of skin with normal melanin levels and removing the skin of the blister. The physician then places this skin over a section of damaged skin that also he's also removed after blistering. Tattooing is the third way to treat Vitiligo surgically. During this procedure, the physician places pigment that is closely matched to normal skin tone into the damaged skin.
3. Things to Try
Treatment for Vitiligo isn't always necessary. For people with normally fair skin tones, the Vitiligo may not show enough to take action. Others can cover the white patches with a camouflage cream such as Veil Cover. This cream blends skin tone and gives the appearance of normal pigmentation in areas affected by Vitiligo. For small affected areas, a doctor can coat the skin with psoralen, a chemical that reacts with ultraviolet light. After the coating, patients expose the area to the light to get the pale patches to darken. If this treatment doesn't work, there's an oral form of the chemical you can take before exposure to ultraviolet light or sunlight. People who suffer from Vitiligo on at least half of their body can go through depigmentation. A physician applies a drug called monobenzone to skin with normal melanin levels and causes it to fade to match the white patches.
4. It Remains a Mystery
No one knows what causes Vitiligo. Some doctors believe that the condition is hereditary. Cases in which people get Vitiligo after a sunburn or an emotionally stressful situation are known, but doctors don't believe these are the standard. Some believe that Vitiligo is a disorder of the body's immune system, where the body for one reason or another fails to protect itself as it should.
5. Dealing With it
People with Vitiligo should always use sunscreen to lessen the severity of the skin tone differences and offer overall sun protection. People can also use self-tanning lotions or sprays to even out the skin color.
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