{"id":2427,"date":"2016-06-25T04:36:14","date_gmt":"2016-06-25T04:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.askdrshah.com\/blog\/?p=2427"},"modified":"2016-06-25T04:36:14","modified_gmt":"2016-06-25T04:36:14","slug":"precautions-to-be-taken-by-a-vitiligo-patient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.askdrshah.com\/blog\/precautions-to-be-taken-by-a-vitiligo-patient\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u00a0causes\u00a0Vitiligo?\u00a0Precautions\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0taken\u00a0by\u00a0a\u00a0vitiligo\u00a0patient."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"vitiligo\"\u201cI am not this hair, I am not this skin, I am the SOUL that lives within – Rumi\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Above quote aptly describes the day to day struggle that a Vitiligo patient goes through and lives with. Vitiligo – a disease of white patches – is not a physically disabling but a socially disabling disease. Vitiligo affects about 2% of the world population and close to 8% of Indian and Mexican population.<\/p>\n

Today, on 25th June – World Vitiligo Awareness Day – we, at Life Force Homeopathy take an opportunity to do our bit in generating awareness and hope for better health for the patients suffering with vitiligo.<\/p>\n

What is Vitiligo and why does it happen?<\/h2>\n

Vitiligo<\/span><\/a><\/span> is a non life-threatening disease whereby the skin loses its complexion and is covered with white patches. In most cases even the overlying hair on the patches turn gray.<\/p>\n

It is a type of an auto-immune disease whereby either there is melanin pigment cell (melanin pigment provide color to the skin) destruction – leading to loss of skin color – causing white patches or defective process of melanin formation – hence no skin color formation.<\/p>\n

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What causes Vitiligo?<\/h2>\n

There are multiple causes of Vitiligo which act individually and can be cumulative when present in groups rendering the disease more difficult to treat.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Autoimmune trait – Various studies have shown that body\u2019s normal immune cells lose the capability to differentiate between normal melanin cells and harmful agents. Hence they start attacking and destroying melanin pigment forming cells.<\/li>\n
  2. Immunological factor- Few studies have demonstrated that skin injury releases a certain type of neuropeptide which may damage melanin.<\/li>\n
  3. Hormonal predispositions – Hormonal affections such as Thyroid Disorders or Adrenal Disorders are roughly present in almost half of the Vitiligo patients indicating a strong association. Research suggests that Vitiligo and Hypothyroidism often are predisposed by the same gene (NALP1).<\/li>\n
  4. Toxic Overload – Heavy metals such as mercury and lead take a toll on the liver. Hence skin cells come in aid to get rid of the toxic overload by excreting it from skin surface. In return they damage the skin surface preventing it from producing required levels of melanin pigment.<\/li>\n
  5. Emotional stress – Similar to skin injury, any severe emotional injury can also trigger release of the neuropeptides which can damage melanin.<\/li>\n
  6. Genetic Tendencies – The familial incidence of 20-30% is observed in the family members. If one or more of the parents have vitiligo, there are more chances of one developing the same, however, it is not a rule. Numerous cases of vitiligo does not have a relevant family history of vitiligo.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We have made an important observation through a study that most patients with vitiligo have one of the family members (father, mother, grand parents on either side, uncle, aunt or siblings) suffering from one or more of the following diseases:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Vitiligo<\/li>\n
    2. Hypothyroid or under active thyroid<\/li>\n
    3. Diabetes<\/li>\n
    4. Alopecia Areata (patchy hair loss)<\/li>\n
    5. Cancer<\/li>\n
    6. Other auto-immune diseases (such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, lichen planus, etc.)<\/li>\n
    7. vitiligo after injury<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A study at our center also shows that the patients who have either extensive vitiligo or those developing vitiligo spots on both sides of body (bilateral symmetrical) have a strong genetic element. In other words, it is difficult for any patient to have extensive vitiligo without genetic links.<\/p>\n

      Vitiligo: Controllable or Curable?\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

      Are there any modifiable factors – Precautions?<\/h2>\n

      Physical precautions:<\/p>\n