Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes white patches on the skin because of a loss of pigmentation in the skin. The cause of vitiligo is unknown and there is no cure for the condition, but treatment options exist to help slow the progression of...
Vitiligo is a patch of abnormally pale skin on your body. The pigment level in those skin cells is much lower than in other parts of your skin, which makes the patch look white. Doctors don't know the exact cause of vitiligo, which means that you...
You may have seen people with irregular patches of white skin on their faces, arms or legs. In some cases, the white areas are large and noticeable. In others, they are small and less evident. The skin condition is called vitiligo. Medical...
The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs from the back through the buttocks and down the back of the legs. This nerve can be compressed due to trauma either as it exits the spinal column or as it passes through the piriformis muscle in the...
Everyone has some unevenness in their skin color and tone, but in some people, genetics or certain diseases can cause patches of skin that are lacking in color, or pigmentation. Although some of these cases can't be treated, many can be improved...
With an aging population of baby boomers and a culture that equates youth with beauty, gray hair has become an increasingly important issue in recent years. As with most appearance-related issues, the color of your hair can be affected by your...
PABA or para-aminobenzoic acid is a component of folic acid, which is a member of the B family of vitamins. PABA found in foods such as eggs, molasses, rice, yeast, wheat germ, whole grains, spinach, mushrooms, kidney and liver. It can also be...
Onchocerciasis disease is an infection caused by the parasite Onchocerca volvulus (worm). According to the Centers for Disease Control, 17.7 million people in the world are infected with onchocerciasis.
The skin covering your neck possesses a higher sensitivity than skin on some other areas of your body. Known as your body's largest organ, your skin must be nourished and protected from damage. When skin discoloration, known as hyperpigmentation...
Chemical peels such as a Maxi peel utilize a chemical solution with two active ingredients, tretinoin and hydroquinone, as well as inactive ingredients to improve skin texture, reduce acne breakouts, and reduce scarring and post-acne...
Vitiligo is a fairly mysterious condition that causes patches of depigmentation on skin. It occurs when the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, called melanocytes, die or lose function. Autoimmune and genetic factors are the standard medical...
According to Drugs.com, Tri-Luma is used for the short-term treatment of darkening of the face (melasma). It may be used in combination with sunscreen or other preventative measures to limit sun exposure to the skin. Tri-Luma, according to...
PABA, or para-aminobenzoic acid, is used in many different ways. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has approved it for use in concentrations up to 15 percent. It can be found naturally in such foods as liver, wheat germ, bran and...
Human hair contains a pigment called melanin, which is the source of your hair color. When you lose most of your melanin, your hair turns gray; when you lose all of it, your hair turns white. You will inevitably go gray--and eventually white--as...
A keloid growth is a tumor that comes from scar tissue overgrowth, often occurring on the shoulders, arms and sternum. The tissue is too zealous in its growth and continues even after the area fills in with tissue. It is a larger growth than the...
Vitiligo is a condition that causes the loss of melanin from your skin. Melanin is the pigment that is responsible for the color of your skin, eyes and hair. Vitiligo manifests when your melanin-producing cells die or no longer generate melanin,...
Hydroquinone is an active ingredient in several skin creams that are used for depigmentation of melasma--pigmented areas--age spots and scars. This chemical compound is used in brand named skin ointments and creams including Claripel, Eldopaque,...
Hydroquinone is a molecular compound with the chemical name 1,4-benzenediol. Its main use is as a depigmentation ingredient to fade melasma (darkened areas) and age spots on the skin and to brighten the complexion. Hydroquinone ointment is...
Skin discoloration in children is not life-threatening. It's due to a disruption of the pigmentation of the skin that may be a small patch or may cover a large portion of your child's body.
Copper is necessary for several body functions, mainly the production of a certain enzyme to help keep your heart and blood vessels healthy. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, copper also supports the structural integrity of...
Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary for important biological functions but that the human body is generally unable to synthesize. Vitamin deficiencies can manifest in various body systems, but are most evident when they affect the...
Acne scar treatment is varied and usually involves the use of topical and chemical treatments, as well as abrasive treatments that remove the top layers of skin. However, as a woman of color, scar treatment can be a bit more complicated. Standard...
A white or dark circle on your skin may indicate a health condition or nothing at all. When you notice the appearance of new pigmentation you suspect could be skin cancer, see a dermatologist. Additionally, individuals with increased risk factors...
Vitiligo is a skin pigmentation disorder that causes white patches of skin, usually in sun-exposed areas. Vitiligo commonly runs in families and in many instances coexists with other autoimmune conditions like thyroiditis and rheumatoid arthritis....
Vitiligo is a genetic, autoimmune skin disorder in which a loss of skin pigmentation results in white patches on various parts of the body. Current treatments are aimed at stopping or slowing the progression of lost pigment. Manipulating one's...
Your skin relies on pigmentation as a form of protection from the elements. Brown pigment produced by your skin cells allows your skin to reflect harmful ultraviolet rays to reduce damage to your skin cells. However, patches of skin discoloration...
The skin serves as a protective covering for your body as it shields you from outside elements. It is composed of three layers: the epidermis, dermis and hypodermal layer. The outer part of your skin (epidermis) contains cells called melanocytes...
Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by a loss of the pigment called melanin from areas of the skin, which causes patches of discoloration in those areas. Vitiligo may affect small or large areas of the body and most commonly affects the...
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...