Understanding Vitiligo: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

KOMPAS.com – Have you heard of vitiligo disease?

Vitiligo is a disease that causes the skin to lose its color or pigment.

This disease can cause uneven skin tone, some appear lighter than natural skin color.

Areas of your skin that have lost pigment are called macules if they are less than 1 centimeter wide, or patches if they are more than 1 centimeter wide.

Well, about what causes vitiligo?

If you look at information from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, vitiligo is included in an autoimmune condition.

In this case, the immune system attacks and destroys the melanocyte cells that produce pigment.

Sometimes an event — such as a sunburn, emotional distress, or exposure to a chemical — can trigger vitiligo or make it worse.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Clinic website also informs that genetic mutations or changes in the body’s DNA can also affect melanocyte function.

It is estimated that there are more than 30 genes that can increase a person’s risk of experiencing vitligo.

Stress factors can also be a cause of vitiligo. Stress can affect the amount of pigment produced by melanocyte cells.

Therefore someone who often experiences emotional stress or physical stress on the body can be prone to experiencing vitiligo.

Also read: Recognize the Causes and Ways to Overcome Vitiligo

What happens to vitiligo patients?

When someone has vitiligo, their skin color tends to be uneven.

Some areas of their body, such as their hands, face and hair, may turn white and appear different from other areas of their skin.

However, vitiligo is painless. It’s just that vitiligo can cause the skin to become more sensitive to sunlight.

People with vitligo are also prone to experiencing abnormalities in the retina of the eye. The main thing that often strikes people with vitiligo is emotional challenges.

People with vitiligo may feel embarrassed about the appearance of their skin.

This can cause anxiety, depression, or cause them to withdraw from social situations.

Also read: Recognize the Causes and Ways to Overcome Vitiligo

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2023-07-24 12:00:00
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