Vitiligo:
This disease has been observed around for thousands of years. It can be found in all parts of the world and is fairly common in all sexes, races and all ages. Approximately 1 out of every 100 people suffered by it.
Main Types of vitiligo: There are two main types of vitiligo:
a) Generalized form of Vitiligo.
“This type of vitiligo often appears on both sides of your body as symmetrical white patches. This is sometimes also called as bilateral vitiligo”.
b) Segmental form of Vitiligo.
“Sometimes the white patches may affect on only one area of patient’s body. This is known as unilateral localized or segmental vitiligo.”
Unilateral vitiligo is less common than bilateral vitiligo. It occurs most commonly in children. More than half the patients with segmental vitiligo have patches of white hair. This condition of vitiligo is not associated with thyroid or other autoimmune disorder.
Note:There are also following some more types of vitiligo on the basis of its conditions.
• Focal Vitiligo: If one or more skin areas loss its pigment in a
confined place then such type of vitiligo is characterize as Focal Vitiligo.
• Mucosal Vitiligo: In such type of Vitiligo only the Mucous membranes
of patient are affected.
• Acrofacial Vitiligo: In such condition of vitiligo the Depigmentation
occurs on body parts such as face, head, hands and feet.
• Vulgaris Vitiligo: In such condition of vitiligo the scattered white
patches are widely distributed on the patient body.
• Mixed Vitiligo: If in a patient’s body, a segmental, Acrofacial
and Vulgaris vitiligo occur in combination, or in pair combination like;
segmental and acrofacial vitiligo, or segmental and Vulgaris vitiligo involvement,
then such condition of vitiligo is known as Mixed Vitiligo.
• Universal, or Complete, vitiligo: In some cases of vitiligo, the
complete or nearly to complete Depigmentation occurs in-patient’s
body and such condition of vitiligo is known as universal or complete vitiligo.
• Occupational Vitiligo. If the exposure of vitiligo susceptible person
to certain chemicals (in your job for example), could cause a reaction,
and lead to create white patches on his skin then This type of vitiligo
is called, Occupational or Contact vitiligo.
Note: Vitiligo is also associated with certain diseases such as Hypothyroidism, Diabetes Mellitus, Addison's disease, Aernicious Anemia, Alopecia Areata, and Halo Nevi.
Course of Vitiligo:
Vitiligo usually happens in between the age of 10 to 30 years old, but its symptoms can be start at any age in any ethnic group. It is more common among the people those have dark skin. This disease disappears by itself in some cases, but mostly, it show slow progression in many people.
Area Affected By Vitiligo:
Vitiligo can affect on at any area of human skin, but it most commonly
occurs on the skin that is usually exposed to the sun, such as face, neck
and hands. It is very common in people whose skin is dark or tanned. Sometimes,
it can also develop on scalp. A Patient’s hairs may also turn in white
or grey colour due to lack of melanin in that areas.