Dr. Mercola: Everything You Need to Know About Vitiligo

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Everything You Need to Know About Vitiligo

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Girl with vitiligo
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    Vitiligo is a skin condition that has been around for centuries and has been documented in various historical accounts
    It is now being credited as an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and kills off the cells that are responsible for the production of melanin
    Read these articles to know more about the symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention for vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin condition that has been around for centuries and has been documented in various historical accounts. The clear cause for this condition has not yet been pinpointed because of the varying external factors connected to its development. However, it is now being credited as an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and kills off the cells that are responsible for the production of melanin.

Some of the earliest documents describing this condition go as far back as 3,000 years ago, some of which are found in Egyptian and Vedic texts. The only problem is that there is no clear contrast between vitiligo and leprosy during those ages, which led to the shunning of people with vitiligo from society because of the collective fear.1

These two conditions are different even though both cause depigmentation. Nowadays, a wider array of diagnostic devices and clearer distinctions between the two have lessened the societal stigma of vitiligo.
The Psychological Impact of Vitiligo

The loss of the melanin in select areas of the body can lead to a heightened sensitivity and risk of sunburn. But aside from this intolerance to sunlight, the physical changes to a person’s appearance can also cause severe psychological impacts on vitiligo patients.

This is because even though vitiligo has been proven to be noninfectious, some people still tend to be frightened of it, and to even shame or ridicule those who have it. The stigma of this can cause those with vitiligo  to suffer numerous psychosocial issues and psychological repercussions.

Various studies have shown that the emotional effects caused by vitiligo can vary from mild embarrassment to complete loss of self-esteem because of the gradual change in the appearance of those who have it. Some of the recommended ways to prevent this include family support and counseling.2
Vitiligo Can Increase Your Risk for Other Autoimmune Diseases

People with vitiligo have also been observed to have a higher chance of developing various autoimmune diseases, including:3

• Alopecia areata refers to hair loss, which is caused by the immune system's attack on hair follicles. It can be seen in various areas of the body, mostly on the scalp or the face.4 The risk for this disease does not depend on race, age or sex, with everyone having the same risk as anyone else in the population.5

• Autoimmune thyroid diseases. The thyroid is responsible for the production of some of the hormones that regulate important body processes. Having an autoimmune thyroid disease mean that the immune system is unknowingly attacking the thyroid glands, which then causes them to either produce too much or too little of these hormones.

The body processes that depend on these hormones then go haywire, affecting the whole body system. Examples of autoimmune thyroid diseases include Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease.6

• Addison's disease is an autoimmune disease where the body is not able to produce enough hormones because of the destruction of the adrenal glands. Two of the important hormones these glands produce are cortisol and aldosterone.

Cortisol is responsible for the regulation of blood sugar and inflammation, while aldosterone functions by regulating both blood pressure and blood volume by controlling salt and water levels.7

• Diabetes mellitus. This disease occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin or when body cells have become insulin resistant. There are two types of diabetes mellitus: Type 1 and Type 2, with Type 1 being an autoimmune disease. Type 1 occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin because the immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells.8

Read these articles to know more about the symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention for vitiligo. You will also learn various holistic treatments and how you can deal with this autoimmune disease naturally.

MORE ABOUT VITILIGO

Vitiligo: an Introduction
   

What Is Vitiligo?
   

Vitiligo Symptoms

Vitiligo Causes
   

Types of Vitiligo
   

Vitiligo Treatment

Vitiligo Prevention
   

Vitiligo Diet
   

Vitiligo FAQ

Next
What Is Vitiligo?
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Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content.

If you want to use an article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.

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© Copyright 1997-2017 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.

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