Vitiligo: Causes, symptoms, diagnosis

Vitiligo is a common skin disease. The patient then has patches of skin that are lighter in color than the rest of the body. Although vitiligo is a benign disease and not contagious. However, it has a great impact on the aesthetic, psychological as well as quality of life of patients. In this article, Doctor Vo Thi Ngoc Hien will provide you with useful information about this disease.

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• 1. What is vitiligo?
• 2. What causes vitiligo?
• 3. Manifestations of vitiligo?
• 4. Vitiligo diagnosis?

1. What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a hypopigmentation of the skin that manifests as areas of the skin that are lighter in color than the rest of the body. In areas where the skin is vitiligo, the hair and hair may turn gray as well. However, the patient still feels like the skin is healthy.

Vitiligo is a benign disease. The disease can occur at any age, of which 25-30% of disease onset before 12 years of age. Both men and women have the same incidence. It is observed that the disease occurs more often in tropical countries and in people of color.

Vitiligo is a disease characterized by areas of skin that are lighter in color than the rest

2. What causes vitiligo?

The main cause of vitiligo is a decrease in the quantity and quality of pigment cells in the skin. Normally, melanocytes are responsible for producing melanin granules that are the pigment that gives a person's skin color.

With vitiligo, the number of pigment cells of the patient will be less than that of the normal person. Sometimes the number of cells does not change but the cells do not work efficiently. Leads to less pigment particles. As a result, some areas of the skin are lighter in color than the rest of the body.

Currently, the cause of the decline in the number and quality of pigment cells has not been found. Some of the proposed hypotheses include:

Free

Some people with thyroid , adrenal , gonadal or hepatopancreas disease have antibodies in their bodies that can destroy pigment cells in the skin. These cells cause vitiligo. Therefore, the patient may have comorbidities in the above organs.

Genetic

Vitiligo can be related to genetics and the incidence is about 20%. When a parent or sibling has the disease, their child is more likely to have vitiligo.

Other causes

• Some theories suggest that exposure to chemicals from outside such as Phenol, Thiol... can directly affect melanocytes and cause disease.
• Some drugs that suppress the body's immune system such as pembrolizumab , nivolumab... can also trigger vitiligo.
• In addition, infectious diseases, viral infections are also considered as possible causes of vitiligo.

Vitiligo can be due to the body's immunity, genetics or some other cause

3. Manifestations of vitiligo?

Symptoms of vitiligo are easy to recognize thanks to the following characteristics:

Inlaid, pale patches

• The patient's skin appears white, slightly pink, clearly defined and paler than the surrounding skin.
• The skin in the vitiligo area is scaly, painless, itchy, and feels just like normal skin.
• On these pale patches, fur and hair may also become discolored.
• These pale patches are very sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet rays. If not carefully covered, the vitiligo sites will be sunburned and there are a few cases after being sunburned, the disease will start again.

Position

1. These pale macules or patches often appear on areas exposed to light such as hands, feet, and face.

2. The patient may have a few patches in several locations on the body or may be diffuse, symmetrical throughout the body and classified into:

• Segmental vitiligo: may appear as one patch in one body segment, two or more non-contiguous segments.
• Vitiligo is not segmented: patches appear throughout the body and tend to be distributed symmetrically on both sides of the body.
• Mixed vitiligo: combination of segmental vitiligo and non-segmental vitiligo.
• Vitiligo cases unclassified: vitiligo spots appear asymmetrical and not segmented as in the case above.

Vitiligo is usually papules or pale patches on the skin of the hands, feet, and face

4. Vitiligo diagnosis?

Diagnosis of vitiligo is based on suggestive factors, disease manifestations, and laboratory tests.

Suggestion factor

• Having a family member with vitiligo suggests a genetic link.
• Thyroid, adrenal, gonads, liver, and pancreas disorders suggest autoimmune disease.

Expression

Appears pale, well-defined, non-scaly, painless, non-pruritic and sun-sensitive macules.

Test

• Accurately diagnose the disease by means of skin biopsy of the suspected vitiligo area.
• Check for related autoimmune diseases in the thyroid, adrenal, gonads, hepatopancreas…

Vitiligo is a benign skin disease. However, the cause of the disease has not been clearly identified, making it difficult to treat.

Learn more : Methods of care and treatment for vitiligo patients