Skin tincture, its saturation and uniformity depends on the amount of melanin in the cells. These are pigments that correspond not only to the color of the epidermis, but also to the hair, iris. In most people, the concentration of melanins is almost the same in all parts of the skin, but about 1% of the world's population suffers from a disruption associated with a decrease in their number.
Vitiligo - what is it?
Behind the exotic name of pathology lies a simple medical definition. Leukoderma, leukodermia or vitiligo is a pronounced change in skin pigmentation. More often it affects dark and dark-skinned people with brown eyes. The disease of vitiligo can make its debut at any age, but it begins mainly in youth. The first symptoms of pathology a person notices in the period from 10 to 30 years.
Vitiligo - the causes of
This disease has long been studied by doctors, it was known in ancient times. Long-term studies have not yet helped in establishing the nature and origin of vitiligo - what kind of disease, and why it occurs, has not yet been elucidated. There are only presumptive factors that increase the susceptibility of certain people to leukoderma. Vitiligo - reasons:
- autoimmune disorders;
- hereditary predisposition;
- deterioration of tissue trophism;
- hormonal failures;
- diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract;
- pathologies of the thyroid gland;
- use of certain medicines;
- stressful conditions;
- intoxication;
- physical trauma;
- chronic lesions of internal organs;
- skin contact with synthetic tissues;
- work on harmful chemical production;
- inflammatory or necrotic processes in the dermis;
- diabetes mellitus .
Complications of vitiligo
The disease is not considered dangerous for the general health or life of a person. Leukoderma is simply a violation of skin pigmentation, which does not entail serious consequences. Sometimes there are problems only a psychological plan, because a person with vitiligo may feel flawed or unattractive because of the uneven color of the epidermis.
In some sources, pathology is associated with the following diseases:
- focal alopecia;
- scleroderma ;
- chronic disorders of the digestive tract;
- psoriasis;
- red flat lichen ;
- impairment of liver function.
Leukoderma is not capable of causing the listed disorders. This fact is easy to confirm if you study vitiligo in more detail - what kind of illness is it, what are the mechanisms of its development. Pathology can be the result of these ailments, but not provoke them. Leukoderma affects only the skin and affects the concentration of melanin in its tissues.
Vitiligo - Symptoms
The clinical picture of the presented disease is so specific that it is diagnosed at the first reception in a dermatologist. The symptoms of vitiligo are limited only by visual manifestations:
- formation on healthy skin of milky-white spots;
- full discoloration of hair on affected areas;
- expansion and merging of spots into large foci;
- sometimes - arbitrary disappearance of depigmented zones.
Subjective sensations or other symptoms of leukoderma in humans do not. It can bother as a cosmetic defect, especially women. If the rules of sun exposure are not respected, burns occur. Skin without normal pigmentation absorbs ultraviolet radiation faster than a healthy epidermis. This leads to the fact that it instantly burns.
Forms of vitiligo
There are 3 types of leukoderma, some of them are extremely rare. Below you can see in more detail the types of vitiligo, photos are attached:
- Generalized form. The discolored areas are located throughout the body. This variant of the disease includes subspecies - acrofacial (spots only on the limbs and face), vulgar (depigmentation is symmetrical, not limited to a certain zone), mixed (a combination of different types of disease).
- Localized form of vitiligo. Spots are formed in certain areas, few of them. Subspecies: focal (discoloration at 1-2 sites), segmental (depigmentation only on one half of the body), mucous (melanins absent in the mouth, on the genitals) leukoderma.
- The universal form. The most rare variant of the disease. Vitiligo spots are multiple, prone to fusion. As a result, large areas of the skin, more than 80% of its surface, become discolored.
For correct diagnosis, it will take a little more information about vitiligo, what kind of disease it is and what the nature of its course is:
- stable - the spot does not change for a long time;
- progressive - depigmentation is constantly increasing;
- unstable - some discolored areas disappear, others appear.
Another classification involves the separation of the type of spots:
- blue - with a corresponding shade;
- tricolor - between the healthy and depigmented skin is an intermediate zone;
- four-colored - around the spot area with a pronounced dark tint;
- inflamed - the boundaries of the discolored area are elevated and inflamed.
Diagnosis of vitiligo
Leukoderma of the skin is easily detected on examination in a dermatologist due to specific damage to the epidermis and severe symptoms. Sometimes additional studies are required to confirm vitiligo, the initial stage of the disease can mimic other pathologies. Analyzes prescribed for the diagnosis of leukoderma:
- biochemical blood test;
- histology;
- skin biopsy;
- inspection by the lamp of Wood .
Vitiligo - treatment
Because of the lack of sufficient information about the origin and causes of pathology, it is difficult to develop effective therapy. While there are no effective methods, how to treat vitiligo. The existing options are aimed at alleviating the already existing symptoms of leukoderma, preventing the appearance of new depigmented spots, their fusion and spreading through the body.
Can I permanently get rid of vitiligo?
The answer to the question is negative. It is also impossible to reduce the risk of developing this disease. Vitiligo is treated for life, using different therapeutic schemes, their periodic adjustment depending on the current state of the person. In some situations it is possible to achieve stability of the stains and give them a color close to the normal shade of the epidermis.
Treatment of vitiligo - drugs
Selection of medicines is carried out only by a qualified dermatologist. The scheme depends on the information received about a specific case of vitiligo - what kind of disease it is, in what form it occurs, whether it is prone to progressing and inflammation of the spots. Treatment may include:
- Antioxidants. These include vitamins, enzymes, minerals, bioflavonoids, lipids, peptides and nucleotides. The drugs used are Actovegin, Berlition, Epadol and others.
- Local funds. After the tests for sensitivity, a glucocorticosteroid ointment from vitiligo is chosen - Elokom, Dermovajt, Alkometazon and analogues. Anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended for Elidel and Protopic.
- Immunomodulators. To correct the production of antibodies against melanins, mainly interferons are used.
Treatment of vitiligo with ultraviolet
Irradiation is performed in two main ways, but for maximum effect it is necessary to take special photosensitizing drugs. They increase sensitivity to ultraviolet:
- Oksoralen;
- Beroxane;
- Pouvalene;
- Lamadine;
- Psoberan;
- Ammifurni;
- Metoxalene;
- Psoralen and synonyms.
Leukoderma - "sunburn" treatment:
- PUVA therapy . On the depigmented areas a photoactive substance is applied, after which they are irradiated with long-wave ultraviolet.
- Narrowband impact. More sparing, but effective method. The discolored epidermal layer is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation at a wavelength of 311 nm.
Treatment of vitiligo with laser
This treatment option shows good results - the area of spots decreases, their formation and fusion ceases. Laser exposure is not a way to cure vitiligo completely. It must be completed by regular courses, fixing the effect obtained. Depending on the area of the lesion, the dermatologist selects the optimal number of sessions.
Before the beginning of therapy, the form of vitiligo is carefully studied - what kind of skin disease is it, how it flows, whether the spots become inflamed. After analyzing the patient's condition, a course of treatment of the epidermis with a fractional laser with a wavelength of 300 to 380 nm is assigned. The beam layerwise evaporates the damaged cells, devoid of melanocytes, and stimulates the production of normal tissue.
Treatment of vitiligo with folk remedies
Alternative medicine offers many recipes that are natural antioxidants. With their help, it will not be possible to completely eliminate the disease of vitiligo, only to reduce its severity and slow development. The simplest way to get antioxidants is to take vegetable oils, for example, black cumin or St. John's wort.
Vitiligo - treatment of folk remedies from herbs
Ingredients :
- spring primrose - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- sage - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- Yarrow - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- water - 1 liter.
Preparation, application
- Pour 3 tbsp. spoon collection of boiling water.
- Insist until completely cool.
- Strain the solution.
- Take 6 times a day for 100 ml of the drug.