Friday, October 18, 2013

VITILIGO BY JAUNTY UNACHUKWU

Vitiligo is a long-term condition that causes pale, white patches to
develop on the skin due to lack of a chemical called melanin.
Vitiligo can affect any area of your skin, but most commonly occurs on skin exposed to the sun, such as your face, neck and hands.
The condition varies from person to...
person. Some people only get a few small, white patches that progress no further. Other people get bigger white patches that join up across large areas of their skin.
There is no way of predicting how much of your skin will be affected.
The white patches are usually permanent.
Why does vitiligo happen?
Vitiligo occurs due to a lack of melanin in the affected areas of
skin. Melanin, which is produced by specialised skin cells called
melanocytes, gives your skin its colour and protects it from the sun.
It is not exactly clear what causes this lack of melanin, but it has
been linked to problems with the immune system and nerve endings in
the skin.Vitiligo is not caused by an infection and you cannot catch
it from contact with someone who has it.
This disease happens in 1 out of 100 and usually appears from the age of 20.
Diagnosis
Vitiligo can usually be identified by a GP after a physical
examination. You may also be asked questions about your family's
medical history and if the problem is affecting your confidence.
You may also be checked for symptoms of other autoimmune conditions,
such as diabetes. Sometimes, blood tests are taken to check how well
your thyroid gland is functioning.
How is vitiligo treated?
The white patches caused by vitiligo are usually permanent, although
there are treatment options to improve the appearance of your skin.
If the patches are relatively small, skin camouflage cream may be used
to cover them up.
Treatment cannot stop the condition from spreading.
Vitiligo can sometimes cause other problems.
Due to a lack of melanin, your skin will be more vulnerable to the
effects of the sun. If it is not protected with a strong sun cream,
then sunburn is likely.
Vitiligo may also lead to a lack of pigmentation in your eyes and a
partial loss of hearing (hypoacusis).

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for the information, I learnt something new

    ReplyDelete
  2. mr p.r.o i dnt knw dat u hav turned 2 a doctor in a twinckle of an eye,gud news u have here,vitiligo hmmmmmm,anoder wahala.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well, this is clearly not an ailment for a black man, because we are packed with melanin. Thanks for the info anyway

    ReplyDelete

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