Vitiligo: Autoimmune Disease

Vitiligo is a disorder in which there is a disappearance of pigmentation from the skin in white patches. It causes a milk-white appearance that holds no skin pigmentation. This disorder appears on different parts of the body and may affect any age group. In our skin, cells make pigment (color) which determines our tone, these cells are called Melanocytes. Vitiligo destroys melanocytes, therefore, causing the milk-white skin tone. Vitiligo can also affect the mucous membrane, such as the tissues inside the mouth, nose and eye.

The cause of Vitiligo is not known. It is an autoimmune disease, in which your immune system will mistakenly attack some parts of your body. In this case, the immune system destroys the melanocytes in the skin causing

This disorder affects all races, and both sexes, however it is more noticeably in those with a darker skin complexion. People with certain autoimmune disease (such as hyperthyroidism) are more likely to getting diagnosed with vitiligo than people who don’t have any autoimmune diseases. Researchers do not know why that is but most of those who have vitiligo do not have any other autoimmune diseases. One may also develop vitiligo if the persons parents have the disorder. However, most will not get it if their parents do have it. Although many scientists have some understanding of the disorder there is still much more research being done, they say it is a work in

These patches are common in areas of the skin in which it is exposed to the sun more. It may be on the hands, feet, face, arms and lips. The patches of white skin will often have hair that turns grey early in those areas. Those with dark skin may also notice a loss of color inside their mouths. There is no way of knowing or being able to tell how much these patches of white skin will spread. For some, the white patches do not spread and often times for others it will spread to other parts of the body. Others will experience a slow spreading of vitiligo over many years while others the spreading will occur rather quickly. Some people have reported that their white patches have spread more after physical or emotional