Vlcc School Vitiligo and Associated Myth

Vitiligo can be a psychologically devastating disease, especially for patients with darker skin photo types, such as those with brown or black skin . The term Vitiligo is believed to be derived from “vitium”, meaning “defect” or “blemish”. Vitiligo is a disorder in which white patches appear on the surface of the skin in different parts of the body 1 This happens because the cells that make pigment (color) in the skin are destroyed. 2 These cells are called melanocytes. Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder of the skin, which is caused by circumscribed and de-pigmented macules forming patches on the skin . Vitiligo is a progressive disorder in which some or all of the melanocytes in the affected skin are selectively destroyed. Vitiligo affects 0. 5% – 2% of the world population. Although several theories have been proposed about the pathogenesis of vitiligo, the precise reasons for this disorder are still unknown. Generally agreed upon principles and theories sugg...