If your skin is forming white
patches which are spreading all over your body, it is probably time that you
should go consult a dermatologist for you may be suffering from the condition
of Vitiligo. Vitiligo is a skin condition which is caused due to lack of
melanin. Melanocytes are bodies responsible for producing melanin, in the
absence of which skin loses color and turns white. Since these cells are
responsible for skin pigmentation, when they start to work against the body, the
person is known to suffer from Vitiligo. Vitiligo is not restricted to any age
and may happen to children or adults. Furthermore, you must remember that this
skin condition cannot be eradicated altogether although the white spots formed
as a result of the disease can be controlled or camouflaged using cosmetics or
treatments.
When you have been diagnosed with
Vitiligo, the next important thing that you should inquire about is the type of
Vitiligo. Broadly, the condition is categorized into two, parts:
·
Non-Segmental Vitiligo (NSV)
·
Segmental Vitiligo (SV)
When talking about Non-Segmental
Vitiligo, you must understand that it refers to a type where symmetrical
patches are formed on the sufferer's body. These patches may increase in size
and this may differ from patient to patient. Furthermore, NSV is the most
common type of Vitiligo and according to a survey, nine out of ten Vitiligo
cases are found to be of the Non-Segmental type.
Non-Segmental Vitiligo is further
divided into a number of other types. These include Focal, Mucosal, Acrofacial,
Generalized and Universal Vitiligo. Since you cannot determine which type you
have been diagnosed with, therefore you must always consult your doctor in
order to be guided in the right direction.
Segmental Vitiligo, on the
contrary, forms patches which remain limited to a specific part of the body.
The white patches formed by this type are known to be in a dermatomal pattern
meaning that the affected skin area is usually supplied by a single nerve
branch. Since the condition is unique, this form of Vitiligo is rare and only
one in ten cases are known to be diagnosed with the segmental type of Vitiligo.
Focal, Mucosal, Uni-segmental and
Pluri-segmental are some further categories of the Segmental Vitiligo. Focal
Vitiligo, also known as Vitiligo Areata, forms white spots only in isolated
areas of the body. Here, a clear distribution pattern is not observed which is
why it is known to be the focal type.
Under Mucosal Vitiligo, the
de-pigmentation occurs in the oral cavity and the genital area. However, this
type is found to be very rare.
Acrofacial Vitiligo refers to a
condition where fingers, toes, face and anogential areas form white patches.
This condition is hard to reverse or control for the above mentioned areas face
difficulty in re-pigmentation because of the lack of melanocyte reserves.
Finally Vitiligo Universalis as
the name suggests causes a complete de-pigmentation of the skin. This happens
to be the rarest forms of Vitiligo and is most extensive as well. Therefore the
treatment for this type is harder than the others.
