HEALTH

Vitiligo: what it is, causes and symptoms

Vitiligo is considered an acquired skin pigmentation disorder, due to which hypopigmented or achromic patches that can vary in size appear on the skin.

It is estimated that vitiligo affects between 0.5 and 2% of the world's population and affects men and women indiscriminately. It mainly affects those over the age of 20, but in half of the cases it appears as early as childhood.

The causes of vitiligo, to date, are still not entirely clear. (Source: humanitas.it)

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What is vitiligo and who can it affect
Vitiligo is considered an acquired skin pigmentation disorder, due to which hypopigmented or achromic patches that can vary in size appear on the skin. It is estimated that vitiligo affects between 0.5 and 2% of the world's population and affects men and women indiscriminately. It mainly affects those over the age of 20, but in half of the cases it appears as early as childhood. (Source: humanitas.it)
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The probable causes
The causes of vitiligo, to date, are not yet fully defined. What seems to be clear, however, is that the disease may have, among its risk factors, autoimmune responses of the body and familiarity with the disorder. Other risk factors seem to include metabolic disorders but also psychophysical stress, sunburn damage and skin trauma such as that caused by wounds or cuts.
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The symptoms of vitiligo
The symptoms of vitiligo are rather easy to recognise as hypopigmented patches are quite typical. The patches appear with smooth or jagged edges, with the central area being whiter. Often the part of skin around the vitiligo may be hyperpigmented compared to the rest of the skin.
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The two known types of vitiligo
There are two known types of vitiligo: non-segmental/bilateral and segmental/localised. Vitiligo of the first type is the most common and is characterised by symmetrical patches on both sides of the body. Segmental/localised vitiligo, on the other hand, occurs only on a single part of the body and mainly affects children in childhood.
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Other symptoms of vitiligo
When vitiligo occurs, it may also manifest itself with other symptoms. These include premature discolouration of beard and hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. Vitiligo may also cause discolouration of the mucous membrane of the mouth or changes in the colour of the retina.
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