![]() If available, the GP may use an ultraviolet (UV) lamp called a Wood's lamp to look at your skin in more detail. For example, how much it affects your confidence and self-esteem, and whether it affects your job. you think your vitiligo is triggered by somethingĪ GP may also ask you about the spread of vitiligo and the impact it has on your life.any areas of skin have got better without treatment, or whether they're getting worse.you tan easily in the sun, or whether you burn.you've injured the affected areas of skin – for example, whether you've had sunburn or a severe rash there.there's a history of other autoimmune conditions in your family.there's a history of vitiligo in your family.Diagnosing vitiligoĪ GP will be able to diagnose vitiligo after examining the affected areas of skin. Vitiligo is not caused by an infection and you cannot catch it from someone else who has it. hormonal changes to the body, such as puberty.skin damage, such as severe sunburn or cuts (this is known as the Koebner response).It's possible that vitiligo may be triggered by particular events, such as: These chemicals are poisonous to the melanocyte skin cells. Segmental vitiligo (the less common type) is thought to be caused by chemicals released from the nerve endings in your skin. you have particular changes in your genes that are known to be linked to non-segmental vitiligo.you have melanoma (a type of skin cancer) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system).there's a family history of other autoimmune conditions – for example, if one of your parents has pernicious anaemia (an autoimmune condition that affects the stomach). ![]() You may be at increased risk of developing non-segmental vitiligo if: Vitiligo is also associated with other autoimmune conditions, such as hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland), but not everyone with vitiligo will develop these conditions. If you have non-segmental vitiligo, your immune system destroys the melanocyte skin cells that make melanin. Instead of attacking foreign cells, such as viruses, your immune system attacks your body's healthy cells and tissue. In autoimmune conditions, the immune system does not work properly. ![]() Non-segmental vitiligo (the most common type) is thought to be an autoimmune condition. This causes white patches to develop on your skin or hair. In vitiligo, there are not enough working melanocytes to produce enough melanin in your skin. Melanin is produced by skin cells called melanocytes, and it gives your skin its colour. Vitiligo is caused by the lack of a pigment called melanin in the skin. It usually starts earlier and affects around 3 in 10 children with vitiligo. Segmental vitiligo is less common than non-segmental vitiligo, although it's more common in children. In segmental vitiligo (also known as unilateral or localised vitiligo), the white patches only affect one area of your body. In rare cases, it's possible for vitiligo to affect your whole body. There's no way of predicting how much skin will be affected. Some people only get a few small, white patches, but others get bigger white patches that join up across large areas of their skin. The condition varies from person to person. Vitiligo does not cause discomfort to your skin, such as dryness, but the patches may occasionally be itchy. They're sometimes red and inflamed, or there's brownish discolouration (hyperpigmentation). The edges of the patch may be smooth or irregular. If there are blood vessels under the skin, the patch may be slightly pink, rather than white. The centre of a patch may be white, with paler skin around it. Vitiligo often starts as a pale patch of skin that gradually turns completely white. The lack of melanin in your skin can turn the hair in the affected area white or grey. It can also sometimes develop where there are hair roots, such as on your scalp. The areas of skin most commonly affected by vitiligo include: The pale areas of skin are more vulnerable to sunburn, so it's important to take extra care when in the sun and use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF). Vitiligo can affect any area of skin, but it commonly happens on the face, neck and hands, and in skin creases. It's caused by the lack of melanin, which is the pigment in skin. Vitiligo is a long-term condition where pale white patches develop on the skin.
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