Vitiligo is a disease that causes skin color to fade. This disease can attack the skin area of our body and also the inside of the mouth, eyes and hair. This disease is classified as a long-term or chronic disease.
In this world, it is estimated that 1 in 100 people experience vitiligo. This disease can affect everyone and usually occurs before entering the age of 20 years.
Causes and Factors Occurrence of Vitiligo
In our body, skin, hair and eye color are produced by the body’s pigment cells. In people with vitiligo, these cells stop producing body color and pigments.
Until now, it is not known why pigment cells stop producing body pigments, but vitiligo can be caused by several factors, namely:
- Hereditary genetic disorders
- Autoimmune disease. A condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys healthy body cells
- Skin stress from sunburn or chemical exposure
Vitiligo Symptoms
The onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of hypopigmented spots on the body. The initial spots that appear lighter than the skin, will gradually whiten over time.
The appearance of these spots is in areas of the body that are often exposed to sunlight. As on the face, lips and feet, then spread to other parts of the body. Other symptoms of vitiligo include:
- Loss of color pigment in the hair, lashes and eyebrows, making it look like gray hair
- The loss of color pigment in the black part of the eye, in the mouth and genitals
- Some sufferers feel itching and pain in the spots
- A rash appears on areas of the skin affected by vitiligo.
How quickly the patches develop cannot be determined. So that over time it widened and appeared in other areas. See a doctor immediately if the color of your hair, skin and eyes is fading. You will get early treatment to inhibit this disease.
Diagnosis of Vitiligo
Before the doctor diagnoses your disease, the doctor will look at some of the symptoms that occur in your body. after that the doctor will ask a number of things to the patient, namely:
- There is a family history of vitiligo or autoimmune disease
- History of trauma to the skin area affected by vitiligo. For example, due to sunburn or a very severe skin rash
- Is there any part of the body that is sensitive to sunlight and is more prone to sunburn?
- Are there any areas in the skin that can get better without the need for therapy or where it gets worse.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will carry out further tests. One of them is by using an ultraviolet light. In this test the patient will enter a dark room and the lights will be turned on at a distance of 10-13cm from the skin.
Vitiligo Treatment
Treatment aims to restore all skin tone. The doctor will give you a prescription and add a tanning lotion. Don’t forget to use an SPF 30 sun screen to prevent skin damage.