Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) inskin are destroyed. Similar patches also appear on bothmucous membranes (tissues that lineinside ofmouth and nose) andretina (inner layer ofeyeball). most widely accepted view is thatdepigmentation occurs because vitiligo is an autoimmune disease — a disease in which a person’s immune system reacts againstbody’s own organs or tissues. Finally, some people have reported that a single event such as sunburn or emotional distress triggered vitiligo; however, these events have not been scientifically proven as causes of vitiligo.
In vitiligo,immune system may destroy melanocytes inskin. It is also possible that one or more genes may make a person more likely to getdisorder. Scientists do not know why vitiligo is connected with these diseases. However, most people with vitiligo have no other autoimmune disease.
We know that pigment cells are not functioning in white patches although some of them do survive both inskin and also inhair follicles inwhite patches. Many theories exist to explainloss of pigment,most popular isautoimmune theory which means thatbody’s own immune system is attackingpigment cells. It has also been recently established that genes play an important role in predisposing some people to vitiligo, especially those who have other autoimmune diseases, in particular thyroid disease, or who have family members who suffer from vitiligo or these diseases.
Other theories which have been proposed include neuronal theory which suggests that nerves in skin are implicated indamage to pigment cells andoxidative stress theory based onbreak down of anti-oxidant defenses inskin or in pigment cell itself. specific cause of vitiligo is unknown but it is generally accepted to be an autoimmune disease where individual’s own immune system destroys melanocytes. It is thought that genetic factors, accumulation of toxic compounds, altered cellular environment, autoimmunity and impaired melanocyte function could all contribute to vitiligo. There is much evidence to suggest that abnormalities inimmune system lead to destruction of melanocytes in vitiligo patients.
Antibodies are proteins, present in blood, which body produces in response to foreign objects, such as viruses and bacteria.
Lymphocytes arewhite blood cells which detect and destroy targeted pathogens, often by releasing cytotoxic (cell-killing) chemicals or by engulfing them. Furthermore, these lymphocytes in vitiligo patients are reactive to antigens (molecule onsurface of a cell) on melanocytes.
What causes Vitiligo or “Leukoderma” isn’t known
About a third of patients have at least one relative with vitiligo|leukoderma, and these patients’ close relatives have about a 16 times elevated risk of getting vitiligo|leukoderma versusgeneral population. This risk is a little more in relatives of patients who get vitiligo|leukoderma early and a little less in relatives of patients who get it later. Hair in these areas are normally white or gray, andskin tends to sunburn a lot easier. Vitiligo Treatment Vitiligo and Leukoderma Signs One-half of population with vitiligo develop spots of de-pigmented skin appearance on people before their 20s.
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