Vitiligo

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Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation of parts of the skin. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells

responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but research

suggests that it may arise from autoimmune, genetic,oxidative stress, neural, or viral causes.[1] The incidence

worldwide is less than 1%.[2] The most common form is non-segmental vitiligo, which tends to appear in symmetric patches, sometimes over large areas of the body.

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Signs & symptoms :

The most notable symptom of vitiligo is depigmentation of patches of skin that occurs on the extremities.

Although patches are initially small, they often enlarge and change shape.When skin lesions occur, they

are most prominent on the face, hands and wrists. Depigmentation is particularly noticeable around body

orifices, such as the mouth, eyes, nostrils, genitalia and umbilicus. Some lesions have hyperpigmentation

around the edges A Black light (also referred to as a UVA light, Wood's lamp, or simply ultraviolet light) can

be used in the early phase of this disease for identification and to determine effectiveness of treatment.

Classification:

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Causes:

Vitiligo is a disorder characterized by patchy loss of skin pigmentation due to immune attacks on melanocytes.

Although there is no significant proof or evidence, many doctors believe that it can be caused by defects in many genes. Variations in genes that are part of the immune system or part of melanocytes have both been associated

with vitiligo. The immune system genes are associated with other autoimmune disorders

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