Research has conclusively shown that you can have a profound psychosocial and emotional impact from vitiligo. For one, you no longer feel that you have control over how you look -- how your skin appears. Vitiligo changes your skin's color, and you may develop white patches anywhere on your body, including your face.
Vitiligo is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. This happens when melanocytes – skin cells that make pigment – are attacked and destroyed, causing the skin to turn a milky-white color.
Can you die from vitiligo? Vitiligo does not pose a serious threat to one's health, but it can result in physical complications, such as eye issues, hearing problems, and sunburn. People with vitiligo also tend to be more likely to have another autoimmune disease (like thyroid disorders and some types of anemia).
Individuals with vitiligo also frequently experience mental health effects like low mood, self-esteem issues, social anxiety, withdrawal, and embarrassment—all of which can deeply affect a person's quality of life.
Multiple studies have documented the psychological devastation that is inflicted by vitiligo. The seminal study by Porter et al. (1979) documented the negative impact of vitiligo on patients' self-esteem.
As with any type of skin condition visible for the world to see, vitiligo can be difficult to live with. Many diagnosed with the disorder suffer from low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. Having the information and some tools available may help you gain some control over vitiligo.
But overall the take home message is that having vitiligo does not mean your immune system is weak, or that you are more likely to get an infection. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.
Certain components of hair dye, bleaching agents, and skin-care products can set off a vitiligo flare. Marmon advises choosing products labeled hypoallergenic that are free of harsh chemicals, fragrances, and irritants.
It's possible that vitiligo may be triggered by particular events, such as: stressful events, such as childbirth. skin damage, such as severe sunburn or cuts (this is known as the Koebner response) hormonal changes to the body, such as puberty.
The condition is not life-threatening or contagious. It can be stressful or make you feel bad about yourself. Treatment for vitiligo may restore color to the affected skin. But it doesn't prevent continued loss of skin color or a recurrence.
It's not uncommon for those with vitiligo to report experiencing anxiety, depression and lower self-esteem as a result of this condition. I've lived with vitiligo for more than twenty years and know this to be true first-hand. After getting vitiligo at the age of seven, I struggled mentally throughout high school.
Vitiligo patients show a high risk of developing psychiatric disorders, in particular anxiety and depression, which may be the psychological consequences of social embarrassment and/or aggravating factors of the skin disease.
Skin conditions such as vitiligo are not automatically classified as a disability, but can be categorised as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if they have a major long-term effect on a person's normal day-to-day activity.
Universal: Pigment loss is widespread across the body. This is the rarest subtype of vitiligo.
Environmental circumstances, such as stress, a bad sunburn, skin trauma, or exposure to a strong chemical, seem to prompt vitiligo development in people who are genetically predisposed to the condition. Triggers may also cause existing vitiligo patches to spread or progress in people who already have the condition.
As non-segmental vitiligo is closely associated with other autoimmune conditions, you may be assessed to see whether you have any symptoms that could suggest an autoimmune condition, such as: being tired and lacking energy (signs of Addison's disease) being thirsty and needing to urinate often (signs of diabetes)
Vitiligo is an inflammatory skin condition affecting 0·5–2% of people. Previous studies have found that vitiligo does not appear to have an association with an increased body mass index (BMI) nor is BMI a risk factor for vitiligo.
Vitiligo can also affect the hair, causing white or prematurely gray hair. Some people lose some of their eye color and see light spots on the colored part of an eye. Vitiligo can also develop inside your ear and may affect your hearing.
However, people with vitiligo are usually in good health and live normal lives. If it is not associated with symptoms that cause physical discomfort or complications, the condition may be left untreated. Otherwise, there are 3 treatment options for vitiligo: Camouflage using makeup and dyes to conceal affected areas.
Adult and mature boys or girls have to make a conscious decision and it must be noted that vitiligo should not be given undue consideration while selecting a life partner.
You must protect your skin from the sun and do not use sunbeds. When skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces a pigment called melanin to help protect it from ultraviolet (UV) light. However, if you have vitiligo there is not enough melanin in your skin, so it is not protected.