What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a long-term skin condition noticed by patches of the skin losing their melanin. The patches of skin affected become white and usually have sharp margins. The hair from the skin may also become white. The inside of the mouth and nose may also be affected as well.

These patches have very little melanin in them. Melanin is what gives your skin, hair and eyes colour. When you have less melanin in your skin it makes you more sensitive to sunburn, so people with vitiligo must be careful to protect themselves when they’re out in the sunshine.

Vitiligo usually starts as small areas of melanin loss that spread and become larger within time. These changes in your skin can result in stress and worries about your appearance. There is no cure for vitiligo. The goal of treatment is to stop or slow the progression of depigmentation and attempt to return some colour to your skin.

The change in appearance caused by vitiligo can affect your emotional and psychological well-being. People often experience emotional stress, particularly if vitiligo develops on visible areas of your body, such as your face, hands, arms or feet. You may feel embarrassed, ashamed, depressed or worried about how others will react.

World Vitiligo Day is celebrated on 25th of June every year to spread awareness about this skin disorder, its causes and treatment.

By Ioana 5J