Vitiligo: More than skin deep

Vitiligo (pronounced vit-uh-LIE-go) is a medical condition in which patches of skin lose their color. This occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for making skin pigment, are destroyed. Vitiligo can affect any part of the body, and it can occur in people of any age, ethnicity, or sex. Affecting approximately 1% of the population, vitiligo can be an emotionally and socially devastating disease. Particularly frustrating to many is its unpredictable progression, which can be slow or rapid. Thus far, there is no cure for vitiligo. But new hope is on the horizon, thanks to recent research that is improving our understanding of the pathways involved in this condition and potential new ways to treat it. Body attacks cells responsible for producing skin’s pigment Vitiligo is generally thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own body (in this case, it attacks melanocytes). In addition, the melanocytes of people with vitiligo appear unable to deal with the imbalance of antioxidants and harmful free radicals in the body, which results in cell damage and death. While most people with vitiligo are otherwise healthy, there is an association between vitiligo and thyroid disease (either over- or underactivity of the thyroid). Less frequently, it occurs together with other autoimmune conditions, such as lupus or type 1 diabetes. Phototherapy and topical treatments can help There are a number of treatments aimed at restoring col...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Autoimmune diseases Health Skin and Hair Care Source Type: blogs