Transcript Vitiligo - S3 amazonaws com

Vitiligo
By: Kirschten Chapman
5th hour
What is Vitiligo?
A skin disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches
It can affect the skin anywhere on the body, including hair, inside of the mouth and
even your eyes
Scientific Description:
A condition in which the skin turns white due to the loss of pigment from the
melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin that gives the skin color.
These melanocytes are located deep within the epidermis
In vitiligo, the melanocytes are destroyed, leaving depigmented patches of skin.
Pictures:
Other signs & symptoms:
The hair that grows in areas affected by vitiligo
may also turn white, such as eyelashes,
eyebrows, hair on the scalp and beards
Vitiligo can occur in one of three patterns:
Focal :Depigmentation is limited to one or a
few areas of the body
Segmental :Loss of skin color occurs on only
one side of the body
Generalized : Pigment loss is widespread across
many parts the body
Cause of Vitiligo:
The immune system attacks and destroys melanocytes in your skin
This disease is hereditary
Sunburn, stress, or exposure to chemicals
Is there a cure?
There is no actual cure or way to prevent Vitiligo
Treatment options include:
Cosmetics
Skin grafting
UV light therapy
Corticosteroid creams
Applying sunscreen
Worst case scenario:
If left untreated, the whitened skin patches will last
longer and grow larger
Facts about Vitiligo:
Vitiligo occurs in about 1% to 2% of the population
In 1 out of every 5 to 10 people, some or all pigment returns on its own and the
white patches go away
People with this condition are more prone to diseases such as hyperthyroidism
(overactive thyroid) and type 1 diabetes
Sources
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vitiligo/basics/definition/con-20032007
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9864
http://www.avrf.org/facts/vitiligo-signs-symptoms.html
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/vitiligo-common-causeloss-skin-pigment
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/vitiligo-common-causeloss-skin-pigment