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Vitiligo Symptoms and treatment

Vitiligo (vit-ill-EYE-go) is a skin pigment disorder in which white patches appear on the skin. These white patches are commonly first noticed on areas of the skin often exposed to the sun. Such as the face, lips, hands, arms, and feet. However, vitiligo is not limited to just those areas.

Vitiligo effects nearly 2 million Americans, and as many as 66 million people worldwide. 50% of people who have vitiligo show symptoms before age 20. By age 40 most people who have vitiligo will have developed symptoms. Vitiligo effects both sexes and all races equally. Although it is more noticeable on people with dark skin.

Vitiligo is caused by the destruction of pigmentation cells (melanocytes), that give our skin it's color. No one is sure why or how they are destroyed. One thing is certain, vitiligo appears to be more common in patients diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Such as hyperthyroidism, pernicious anemia, alopecia areata, and adrenocortical insufficiency. However, medical experts do not know the reason for this association, and state that most people with vitiligo do not have any other autoimmune system diseases.

If you think you may have vitiligo, consult your health professional. Your doctor will perform a physical examination, checking the common areas to spot vitiligo patches. As vitiligo may be associated with several autoimmune diseases, your doctor may also ask about your medical history and require a blood sample.

Some symptoms of vitiligo:
* White or discolored patches on the skin; appearing on the face, lips, hands, arms, and feet. Less noticeable areas include; the armpits, navel, groin, genitals, rectal areas and in the nostrils.
* In addition to white patches on the skin. A patient with vitiligo may have graying of hair; including the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows and beard.
* People with dark skin may notice whitening of the skin inside their mouths.

Vitiligo appears in three common patterns:
* Focal pattern: The depigmentation (the white patches) are limited to one, or few areas of the body. This pattern remains localized and does not spread to other parts of the body.
* Segmental pattern: The depigmented skin patches are limited to only one side of the body. This pattern remains localized and does not spread.
* Generalized pattern: The most common vitiligo pattern. Generalized pattern occurs on both sides of the body and may spread to other parts of the body. For some with the generalized vitiligo pattern the patches do not

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