Comprehensive information about vitiligo disease and its treatment in different ways.

Vitiligo is a mysterious disease characteristic features spots on the skin, not colored by pigment.
This is a difficult to treat and practically unexplored disease. It affects both adults and children.

Symptoms of vitiligo, the initial stage in children and adults

• Vitiligo does not bring pain, it is more uncomfortable in cosmetic and psychological manifestations
• The first symptoms of the disease are white spots on the body different sizes and forms
• After a while they grow, merging together
• The disease can capture any part of the body, sometimes even appears around the follicles, but never captures the soles and palms.
• Affected morphological elements are especially sensitive to sunlight. Under their influence, they temporarily turn red, standing out on tanned skin, subsequently not changing color.
• Vitiligo-affected hair lacks pigmentation and therefore turns gray
• Spots can appear in men, women and children, regardless of age
• According to statistics, women are twice as likely to suffer from this disease than men.
• Most often, vitiligo appears before the age of 20, sometimes at a more mature age.
• Recently, a large number of children have been affected by this disease.

Vitiligo causes and consequences on intimate places, face, body

Since this disease has not been fully studied, we can only say with full confidence that this is a dermatological disease associated with a violation of skin pigmentation. By itself, the disease does not call out a person's feelings of discomfort.
Basically, experts attribute the occurrence of this problem to the following reasons:

• Disease of the endocrine glands
• Mental disorders, stress, problems with activity nervous system
• Heavy infectious diseases associated with skin disease
• genetic succession
• Violation of the autoallergic process
• Deadening and inflammation of the skin
• Harmful working conditions associated with chemical production

Also contribute to the active manifestation of vitiligo:

• chronic diseases
• Various injuries
• Alcohol and other poisoning

Sometimes a sick person has hypovitaminosis, a violation of metabolic processes due to a lack of iron, zinc, copper.
There were times when helminths were the cause of vitiligo. After their destruction, there was a complete recovery.
With a gradual lesion of the body, over time, the patient:

• Diseased hair turns pale
• There are processes of violation of perspiration and sebum secretion
• Depigmented skin does not respond to cold and heat
• Lesions are covered with "goose bumps"
• Eye problems occur
• Lost hearing
• Dry skin and itching appear
• May develop skin cancer
• Very often the disease is accompanied by solar dermatitis.
• Occasionally, spots may appear in adults and children in the sphincter or genital area.

Video: Treatment of vitiligo, vitiligo disease

Vitiligo is a hereditary disease, is it inherited?

This topic has interested many scientists.

• Based on numerous works, it has been established that in one family genetics, this problem is acceptable in some relatives in only 15% of episodes.
• Since different genes are involved in the formation of spots, which are responsible for the susceptibility to the appearance of vitiligo, depending on various situations, a person may not be born with the disease, but with a predisposition to its progression. And the appearance of the disease is facilitated by specific factors that activate its manifestation.
• Despite systematic research into the genetic origin of vitiligo, only the autoimmune nature of the disease is still confirmed.

Diagnosis of vitiligo: which doctor treats, what tests should be taken?

To accurately diagnose, you need to consult a dermatologist-geneticist.

• By histological examination of light spots, the absence of melanocytes and pigmentation on the skin is established
• After a thorough examination of the epidermis and visible mucous membranes, it is necessary to determine the form of the disease and, depending on this, undergo an additional examination of the body.
  Generalized and universal form- study thyroid gland organs of vision, hearing and autoimmune diseases, complete blood count
  Localized form - does not require blood tests and further medical research

Modern methods of treatment of vitiligo in adults and children

Align skin pigmentation with completely opposite methods of treatment:

1. Bleach pieces healthy skin scattered on a completely depigmented surface.
   To do this, normal skin is decolorized by applying a 20% hydroquinone monobenzine ester (MBEG) ointment. Starting with 5% MBEG ointment, gradually adding volume until visible whitening
2. Increased pigment formation or the use of all kinds of camouflage methods to cover non-standard color spots, which in turn is divided into surgical and non-surgical

The most common treatment system is non-surgical. It is carried out using:

• photo and laser therapy
• corticosteroids
• phenylalanine treatment
• kellin
• tyrosine
• melagenin
• local immunomodulators
• calciumpatriol
• pseudocatalase
• herbal preparations
• Quite effective is surgical: transplantation of skin areas from a donor or melanocyte cells that are grown artificially in the laboratory. But even with all its positive qualities, it has a significant cost and provokes frequent exacerbations of the disease.
• Combination of all methods - one of the promising areas of treatment of vitiligo

In any case, the treatment is selected by a dermatologist for each patient individually.
With a visit to the doctor can not be delayed.

Treatment for early stage gives more guarantees for a successful recovery.

• Diagnosis and therapy are more positive and effective in infancy
• Since there are many ways to treat vitiligo, almost all of them are applicable for children and adults.
• The exception is appointments that are not used for children under five years of age, but monitoring should be constant, since depigmentation may be a sign of the presence of an infection in the body.
• In the treatment of vitiligo in children, drugs based on the placenta or medicinal herbs are used
• It is permissible to heal with folk methods, but do not forget that not only improvement is possible, but also negative influence on skin condition
• Walking in a not very active sun has a positive effect
• Self-treatment forbidden
• Only a doctor has the right to prescribe the procedure and ways of treatment

Important: A visit to a dermatologist at the onset of signs of the disease will save you from further progression of skin lesions.

Video: Vitiligo treatment methods: PUVA therapy, phototherapy, laser, Stiotron apparatus

Vitiligo: treatment effective medicine, ointments

Preparations for the treatment of this ailment to this day have not yet been developed.
In the treatment, antioxidants are used that remove free radicals from the body and immunomodulators that increase the patient's immunity.
To a greater extent, treatment is focused on reducing the cosmetic defect and preventing the formation of new morphological elements.
The fastest and most effective therapies:

Hormonal

• Recovery of hormonal creams slowing down the destruction of melatocytes: betamethasone, protopic, diprospan, prednisone. Treatment is carried out for three months, by applying to the desired areas three times a day. The drugs have an effect on reducing the immune attack and contribute to the repression of the lost color.
• Hydrocortisone injections once every seven days in the affected areas of the skin. Five to ten treatments
• Combining hormonal and photosensitizing drugs, pigmentation restoration is activated

Important: Hormonal drugs should be used only after the recommendation of a specialist

Nonsteroidal inhibitors

• Rubbing the anti-inflammatory cream Elidel into the affected areas for six months stops the growth of existing ones and prevents the formation of new areas of vitiligo

Is vitiligo curable and how to cure it quickly?

• Due to the fact that this disease is under study, it is problematic to find a knowledgeable specialist who could prescribe treatment for a full recovery.
• Most doctors consider vitiligo to be quite compatible with normal human life and do not attach much importance to its treatment.
• The only way to get rid of this disease is to apply complex therapy. It should be noted that it is not enough to undergo the treatment prescribed by a dermatologist, it is necessary to be examined by other specialists in order to specify the factors of the disease.
• Since it is possible to completely get rid of vitiligo only by eliminating all possible diseases that have served as a relapse, the treatment is long-term.
• At the same time, they meet exceptions when suddenly appearing spots, diagnosed as vitiligo, disappeared on their own and imperceptibly

How is vitiligo treated in Cuba, in Israel, in China, in the Crimea, in the Volga region center for the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo, on the Dead Sea?

Cuba

• Therapy is carried out through the use of Melagenin lotion. The basis of which is the placenta
• The use of the elixir promotes the renewal of the skin and inhibits the progression of the disease
• No contraindications were found. Acceptable for the recovery of children and pregnant women
• More than 80% of patients treated in Cuba for vitiligo are cured or slow down further exacerbation for a long time

Israel

• Long-wave UV irradiation is used by the method of PUVA therapy, when combining immuno- and vitamin therapy
• Leads to a holistic release of the body from existing problems and minimizes the risk of recurrence of the disease
• Also, sunbathing treatment is used, in combination with Psoralen, under the strict supervision of a doctor.
• The treatment is aimed at harmonizing the body, to eliminate the malfunction of the immune, nervous, endocrine systems.
• Wellness internal organs, circulatory and other systems is implemented in the most sparing mode

Crimea

• There are no specialized centers with the target direction of this disease
• Nevertheless, the maritime climate and general methods of treating skin diseases contribute to the improvement of the skin condition.

China

• Without a complete preliminary examination, not a single Chinese specialist will begin the treatment of vitiligo
• Only on the basis of the results obtained, after diagnosis, a course of treatment will be prescribed. Basically its duration is 5-6 weeks
• Given the mentality of Chinese specialists and their approach to the treatment of vitiligo, they have a peculiar
• Here are collected both the classical approaches of dermatology and the age-old knowledge of the Tibetan sages. The therapy is carried out:
• phototherapy
• transfusion
• hydrotherapy
• injections
• other healing methods
• A lot of funds are produced in the "Celestial Empire" plant origin that do not have side factors for the treatment of vitiligo, which are used in complex treatment
• According to Chinese experts, the cause of diseases are: the internal disharmony of the patient and the influence of karma. Therefore, great attention is paid to the healing of the aura and the psychological state of the patient.
• Such treatment contributes first to the pinking of the spots, and later to their complete disappearance.

Volga Treatment Center

• The method of phototherapy is used
• Painless treatment with light using a technological device - UVB-311
• The patient enters the vertical cabin, the incoming stream of ultraviolet waves restores the skin

The Dead Sea

• By exposure to the special climatic conditions of the Dead Sea, a 21-day therapy is carried out with additional application external rubbing cream with pseudocatalase PC-KUS
• Positive results appear from the second week
• To consolidate the result, a repeated course is necessary.

Treatment of vitiligo folk remedies at home

Using folk methods in combination with the main therapeutic purpose, it is possible to achieve more tangible positive results.
Most requested recipes:

Treatment of vitiligo with celandine

Main therapeutic component is the juice of this plant, on the basis of which an ointment is prepared:

• We pass the celandine through a meat grinder
• Squeeze the gruel through cheesecloth
• The resulting juice is mixed with butter in the ratio: 1:1
• Soak spots with ointment twice a day

St. John's wort oil for vitiligo

The medicinal properties of this plant activate pigment metabolism, stimulate the formation of melanin.

• The dried plant is mixed with olive oil in a ratio of one to ten
• Tomim in a water bath for 2-3 hours
• We filter
• We make compresses from a warm extract on the affected areas for 30 minutes
• Then we take a sunbath starting from two minutes. With each session, increase the duration by 2-3 minutes
• The procedure is repeated twice a day.
• The course of therapy - a month
• Then pause for 14 days, after which we start the procedure again
• Requires at least two courses

Black seed oil for vitiligo

vitiligo disease Has miraculous healing effect. You can buy only in pharmacies.

• For external use: wipe the affected morphological elements with vinegar, then apply oil to them. We go outside and take sunbaths for about a quarter of an hour
• To improve the general condition, take a teaspoon orally twice a day with boiled water.

Vitiligo: treatment with duckweed with honey

• Juice obtained from a fresh plant is mixed with honey, in proportion to one to one
• Wipe five or six times, during the day, damaged areas
• Inside, take after meals, no more than twice a day for a teaspoon

Birch tar from vitiligo

• We cover with tar, lesions within a month
• After a two-week break, repeat the procedure
• At the beginning of the third week of treatment, the spots begin to disappear.

Treatment of vitiligo with aspirin, reviews

Michael: I suffered from this disease for ten years. What I have not tried for treatment: ointments, creams, infusions, injections, vitamins. Nothing helped. Once he rested in Yalta. A woman lived next door. Seeing bright white spots on my dark torso, she inquired about my skin problem. I told the woman about my illness. She gave me this recipe: aspirin, baby cream or petroleum jelly, rub until smooth. We soak the spots with this mixture and go to fry them in the sun. I still had 10 days left. I went to the pharmacy and bought everything that was said. Made a quick mix. All 10 days before going out into the sun, I lubricated my problem points. By the end of the rest, an even tan covered my entire body. The spots are gone. I highly recommend that those who suffer from vitiligo apply this folk recipe. Perhaps this will help someone else.

Figs for vitiligo

vitiligo disease Contains the necessary substances that eliminate the problem. Eating a lot of raw figs for one and a half to two months, you can be completely healed.

• Dried fruits purify the blood and inhibit the growth of spots
• We take an infusion before meals, four times a day for half a glass
• It is prepared at the rate of half a cup of leaves per cup of boiling water.

Video: Treatment of vitiligo with folk remedies at home with herbs, oils, aspirin, copper

diet for vitiligo

There are no special dietary restrictions.
But it is necessary to draw up a diet so that it contributes to the normalization of metabolism, vitaminization and restoration of mental balance.
To saturate the body with tyrosine, which contributes to the production of melanin, we include in the menu:

• pumpkin seeds
• Seafood
• Mushrooms
• Bananas
• cherry
• pineapples
• raspberries
• Legumes
• leafy vegetables
• Cod liver and beef

To fill the body with vitamins E, B, C, nicotine and folic acid, iodine, zinc, iron and manganese, you must use:

• Buckwheat porridge
• figs
• Pears
• apricots
• blackberry
• Walnut
• Celery root
• parsley

It is advisable not to transfer. Steam cooking. Add more ginger to your diet.

Video: Proper nutrition and diet for vitiligo

What vitamins to take with vitiligo?

• Riboflavin (B2)
• Thiamine (B1)
• Vitamin C
• Para-aminobenzoic and pantothenic acids
• It is useful to use iron and copper salts
• You can supplement the use of 1% solution of copper sulfate in drops after meals

Treatment of vitiligo with homeopathy: what remedies

For the treatment of alternative medicine, it is necessary to know not only homeopathic remedies, but to choose the right treatment in each case. To do this, you need to contact a competent specialist in this field.
It is not recommended to take drugs on your own. You can spend a lot of money and time without getting a result.
With properly prescribed treatment, the first signs of stabilization of the process appear only after half a year. It's long, but very effective method treatment that requires patience.

• The most commonly used Indian preparation is Bakuchi (Psoralea corylifolia), which is taken orally or externally as an ointment.
• No less in demand pharmaceutical products Vitiskin gels, Vitix, Vitix tablets. These products help remove hydrogen peroxide from the epidermis, which destroys pigment cells.
  Homeopathic medicines that are popular with homeopaths are:
• Ammonium carbonate (Ammonium carbonicum)
• Boliglov spotted (Conium)
• Saint Ignatius beans (Ignatia)
• Bromine (Bromium)
• Caulophyllum (Kaulefilum)
• Stalk leaf (Graphytes)
• Nosode of syphilis (Syphilinum)
• Iodine
• Lycopodium spores
• Phosphorus (Phosphorus)
• Meadow lumbago (Pulsatilla)
• Cuttlefish(Sepia)

Do they take in the army with vitiligo?

In the list of diseases of the "Regulations on military medical examination", in which the conscript is not subject to military service, this disease is indicated.
To confirm the diagnosis of release from service, the conscript must have three pronounced depigmented spots anywhere on the body: from 10 cm in diameter on the body and from 3 cm on the face. In this case, the size is taken for each section separately.

Is it possible to go to the sea, in the sun with vitiligo?

• Since sea air has a positive effect on general state the body to rest at sea with vitiligo is useful
• Skin prone to pigmentation should be protected from active exposure to sunlight.
• You can sunbathe but don't burn
• To do this, we use sunscreen cosmetics, which at the same time prevent exposure to ultraviolet radiation on bare skin and protect healthy epidermis from sunburn. Thus, the overall color of the skin is harmonized.

Video: Is it possible to sunbathe with vitiligo?

How to cover up, disguise vitiligo: tanning, tattoo?

• Best and proven concealer self-tanners for depigmented areas: Nivea Sun Kissed Skin, VISHY Capital Soleil Autobronzant, Nyce Legs, Nutribronze, Dior Bronze, GarnierAmbre Solaire, Bronze Nature (Yves Rocher)
• The original way of tattooing small affected areas will help to solve the problem of decoration:
  Having chosen the drawing you like, the professional applies it to the masked area and blends the paint to match the skin tone.

Video: Using self-tanner. Vitiligo correction

How to distinguish vitiligo from lichen?

Similar spots in these diseases have significant differences.

Main difference: Lichen stains smeared with iodine darken. Vitiligo zones do not change color

Conspiracy from vitiligo

Mature people:

“I baptize with the cross, I want to kill my (your) illness, so that God’s servant (person’s name) has white and whole skin.”

We speak inaudibly, in a singsong voice. The timing does not matter.
For a child:

“There, beyond the sea-ocean, next to the island of Buyan, there is a golden carpet. And that carpet is not simple, embroidered, golden, and it all glitters in the sun. Not a flaw, not a stain on a piece of cloth. Let the skin of (person's name) be white-white again.

• We perform the ritual on a bright sunny day, at noon
• We throw a handmade mat on the patient
• We read the text at length, loudly and clearly
• As soon as the pronunciation of the words is finished, the child must sharply throw off the veil from the shoulders.

  Prevention of vitiligo

  Since it has not yet been possible to unravel the cause of the appearance of this process, we can give general recommendations to reduce the risk of disease:

• Support healthy lifestyle life
• Monitor your diet
• Avoid stressful situations
• Do not stay in direct sunlight for a long time
• Beware of skin injury and burns
• Prevent direct harmful exposure to chemicals in both the home and workplace

In conclusion, I would like to say that with such a disease as vitiligo, the support and understanding of others is very important.

Despite the safe course of the disease, it has a devastating emotional and psychological effect.
There have been cases when, after marriage, these inconspicuous spots became the cause of a divorce. Many sick people experience emotional stress, especially if lesions appear on the face or genitals. And this affects psychological health, which further exacerbates the process.
Close people are a huge source of support.
After all, there are methods that help to cope with vitiligo.
You can use cosmetics to cover up imperfections.
The main thing is not to lose hope, stubbornly use everything possible options. At the same time, live and enjoy life without injuring yourself with unnecessary complexes.

Video: Vitiligo (my story)

It is easy enough to notice vitiligo, the initial stage has a quite noticeable manifestation. On the skin, the initial stage of vitiligo (photo 2) is manifested by barely noticeable white spots, the size of which does not exceed 0.2-0.3 cm. Often, such minor symptoms of vitiligo are simply ignored.

Dermatological studies have shown that if a patient has skin melanoma, the occurrence of vitiligo increases the chances of regression of this disease. Under favorable conditions for the pathology, the initial stage can develop, turning into other forms:

• stationary;
• progressive;
• repigmentation stage.

During the stationary stage White spots(photo 3) do not change, no new signs of vitiligo appear. With progressive, “multiplication” of spots is observed, existing lesions increase in size. The growth rate depends on the individual characteristics of the organism, the symptoms of vitiligo may increase over several weeks.

Vitiligo after treatment can go into the stage of repigmentation. Against the background of exposure to chemical agents or medication, the violation of skin pigmentation becomes less aggressive. If you ignore the pathology, the development of complications is possible, which include:

• psoriasis;
• focal alopecia;
• early gray hair;
• lichen planus;
• scleroderma.

In some cases, the cause of skin pigmentation disorders is pityriasis versicolor in humans, the symptoms of which are a bit similar to vitiligo. This disease belongs to infectious pathologies, and usually affects adults.

The disease affects people of almost all ages, but vitiligo in children(photo 4) less than ten years of age is rare. Most often, vitiligo skin disease appears in teenage girls, especially if they are overly emotional. Experiences and stress contribute not only to the appearance of spots, but their rapid development.

The initial stage of vitiligo in children can appear even after a common cold, the complications of which damaged the immune system. In this case, vitiligo on the skin looks like barely noticeable spots of a pinkish tint. Also occurs poliosis - loss of pigmentation hairline where there are signs of vitiligo in children.

Even if the disease appeared in a pregnant woman, it will not necessarily pass on to her child. Vitiligo in a newborn appears for reasons beyond the control of the mother's body. Vitiligo in infants can occur against the background of concomitant diseases, which include psoriasis in children, or versicolor versicolor.

Due to the fact that vitiligo rarely appears in young children, parents may not pay due attention to the disease. This is a serious mistake: without treatment, vitiligo skin disease will progress, which can lead to serious psychological problems. Children who have signs of vitiligo on their bodies often face hostile peer pressure.

It is advisable to start treatment as soon as the initial stage appears. But it is impossible to make a diagnosis on your own, even if the parents are sure that vitiligo is starting and obvious pigmented spots have appeared. Problems with the production of pigment can cause hypomelanosis in a child(photo in gal), which also appears light spots on the skin. To detect vitiligo in a child, it is necessary to take blood tests for sugar levels and thyroid hormones. In some cases, a histological examination of the area of ​​\u200b\u200bproblem skin is required. Vitiligo in infants requires treatment in the same way as pathology in older children.

In children, albinism, a pathology in which there is a violation of pigmentation, can also provoke similar symptoms. Such a failure is not just a cosmetic defect: a lack of melanin can lead to visual impairment or intolerance to sunlight.

What is vitiligo disease

Vitiligo disease (see photo 6) is a pathology in which melanin disappears in some areas of the skin. This is the pigment that gives our skin its color, without it there is a violation of skin pigmentation. Spots with vitiligo disease are milky white, can have any shape and increase as the disease progresses. The initial stage of vitiligo under the eyes or in other places appears with one or two barely noticeable spots, which in six months can turn into one local lesion.

Vitiligo disease is chronic and relapsing in nature. Therefore, signs of vitiligo in children or adults can spontaneously appear and disappear. The disease affects any part of the body, vitiligo manifests itself on the back and even on the scalp. Vitiligo often appears on the genitals, back or under the eyes. The initial stage of vitiligo on the hands changes not only the fingers, but also the forearms. The causes of vitiligo can be very different. These include:

• trauma;
• burns;
• failure of the immune system;
• genetics;
• liver problems;
• pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
• endocrine problems;
• stress;
• long-term toxic effects.

Because of these same symptoms, leukoderma, the symptoms of which are often confused with vitiligo, can occur. Without the help of a specialist, it is difficult to distinguish between these two diseases.

Before and after vitiligo treatment

Drugs for the treatment of vitiligo should be selected by the attending physician. The choice depends on the degree of skin damage, the personal characteristics of the body and the stage of the disease. With a localized form, Sinalar, Triacort, Elokom or Hydrocortisone are used, with a generalized form - Triamcinolone, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone and their analogues. If the spots did not increase before vitiligo treatment, therapy will not only stop their development, but will also begin to restore the natural pigmentation of the skin.

To defeat vitiligo spots on the face or other areas of the skin, it is also recommended to use vitamin and mineral complexes, in some cases ultraviolet therapy is necessary. If topical treatment cannot overcome the skin disease of vitiligo, donor skin grafting is used.

Local treatment of vitiligo also includes ultraviolet or laser therapy. To get rid of vitiligo on the legs is recommended simple diet from seafood, corn, rice and apples. Get rid of vitiligo intimate places systemic or local glucocorticoids will help.

Model with vitiligo Shantel Brown-Young

Despite the fact that vitiligo in girls does not look very attractive, for some people it becomes a kind of highlight. An example is Winnie Harlow, known as model with vitiligo Shantel Brown-Young(photo 8). The initial stage of vitiligo appeared at the age of three, and once it was a reason for bullying and ridicule.

By the age of nineteen, this girl is the most famous model with vitiligo disease. This model with vitiligo became the inspiration for an Internet flash mob: fans imitated characteristic pigmentation disorders with the help of cosmetics. The fashion model with vitiligo gained wide popularity after participating in the show "America's Next Top Model".

michael jackson and vitiligo

If the model with skin pigmentation is not shy about their ailment, then some other celebrities with vitiligo have a completely different attitude to the disease. Vitiligo was also observed in Michael Jackson. Dark-skinned people also develop milky white spots. At first, the singer used cosmetics to hide the defect, and then he decided on a serious operation to transplant donor skin.

Gallery of photos of vitiligo on the body

Vitiligo (vitiligo), (dog, leukopathy, piebald skin) is one of the most unexplored and difficult to treat diseases. It can occur at any age and is manifested by the appearance of white spots on the skin, that is, areas devoid of pigment - melanin. This phenomenon is called depigmentation.

This disease is common in all countries of the world. The disease can occur at any age, but most often it develops in women, as well as young people under the age of 20 years. IN last years there is an increase in the number of patients, both among the adult and child population, especially among young people.

Vitiligo is a disease that official medicine does not really like. It is believed that it does not threaten life and health. But it is not so. Maybe there is no threat to life, but the harm to health is obvious. After all, vitiligo is not only an unpleasant cosmetic defect, but also more than a visual reminder of serious disorders in the body.

Causes leading to the development of vitiligo

Neither the cause nor the mechanism of action in the development of vitiligo has yet been definitively determined.

It is assumed that the following factors play a role in the appearance of vitiligo:

• disorders of a neuroendocrine nature (dysfunction of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, gonads);
• mental trauma;
• disorders of the autonomic nervous system (the predominance of the tone of the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system over the tone of its parasympathetic part);
• autoimmune processes;
• hereditary predisposition, which is confirmed by family cases of the disease.

Of great importance in the development of vitiligo are stressful conditions, infectious diseases, chronic diseases internal organs, intoxication, skin contact with certain synthetic tissues, physical trauma.

In many patients, imbalances, the exchange of copper, iron, zinc and other micro- and macroelements were determined, a syndrome of malabsorption was noted. In recent years, an important role is given to disorders of the immune system, there is evidence of the autoimmune pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Depigmentation (discoloration) can be provoked by worms (helminths), disrupting the normal activity of the endocrine glands and leading to copper deficiency in the body. Conducted in such cases, deworming contributed to the cure of patients.

Vitiligo symptoms

The disease is usually chronic course, morally oppressing the patient and causing discomfort. The disease begins with the appearance of slightly pink or milky white spots on the skin. Gradually, the spots increase, acquire a different size, clear boundaries, rounded or oval outlines. Growing, the spots tend to merge with each other, forming extensive foci. The foci can be single or multiple, located on any part of the skin, most often in open places: on the face, neck, upper and lower limbs, large folds in the vulva, anus.

The foci are located more often symmetrically, sometimes there are unilateral lesions, often localized along the nerve trunks. In the foci, the hair changes color, turns pale; sweating and sebum secretion, vasomotor and musculoskeletal reflexes are disturbed (discolored skin loses its ability to respond to cold and other irritants, which form the so-called "goose bumps").

The most pronounced degree of development of vitiligo is a universal lesion, when the entire skin becomes depigmented.

Patients with vitiligo have no subjective sensations, and, as a rule, only a cosmetic defect worries them. Individual spots may spontaneously disappear. The patient should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, as white spots stand out more on tanned skin.

With the progression of vitiligo, foci of depigmentation appear at the sites of recent injuries, in areas of friction or pressure on the skin.

What can your doctor do?

Vitiligo is diagnosed based on clinical picture and in most cases does not cause difficulties, due to the characteristic clinical manifestations diseases.

The many factors that contribute to the onset of vitiligo necessitate complex treatment this disease.

Vitiligo is a complex problem due to the lack of a clear treatment regimen, despite the emergence in recent years of several causally based approaches to therapy. Use drugs that increase the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet rays, followed by exposure to them.

A complete cure of patients is impossible without the elimination of concomitant diseases. Vitiligo is a skin marker of internal disease.

Currently, the search for effective treatments for this disease continues.

What can you do?

If signs of the disease appear, you should consult a dermatologist. But when describing the symptoms, it is not necessary to focus only on skin problems, and not to miss other signs that are not related to the skin. Because, as mentioned above, the cause can be caused by changes in the body as a whole.

Vitiligo has no subjective symptoms, the patient has only cosmetic manifestations of the disease. The causes of the disease can be different: from autoimmune and endocrine disorders to nervous and other pathologies. Unhealthy pigmentation can be a health hazard as the skin loses its natural UV protection, burns quickly in the sun, and can become blistered.

Treatment of vitiligo depends on the cause of the pathological pigmentation, it can be hormonal, laser, surgical, bleaching and photosensitizing. Prevention of the disease can sometimes help to avoid the development of vitiligo, but often it is powerless, especially if the patient has chronic diseases of the thyroid gland, pineal gland, gastrointestinal tract, or the skin itself.

Vitiligo skin disease is a pathology associated with a violation of normal skin pigmentation, in which the natural dark skin pigment, melanin, is destroyed in the cells of the dermis. The result of this degenerative process is milky or white patches on the skin without a clear outline.

Vitiligo can be diagnosed both in childhood and in adulthood, because there are many factors that contribute to the development of pathology (autoimmune disorders, diseases of the endocrine organs, physical or chemical injury to the skin, heredity, and others).

Abnormal pigmentation often manifests itself in areas subject to regular injury: knees, elbows, hands, less often spots appear on the face and limbs, vitiligo on the back or abdomen can be seen extremely rarely.

Classification

Exists clinical classification vitiligo, depending on two factors: the nature of the pigmentation of the spots and the localization of foci of abnormal color on the skin.

With vitiligo, skin pigmentation by nature is divided into:

• duochromic (white spots stand out brightly against the background of normally colored skin);
• tricolor (on the skin there is a smooth transition from darker to lighter areas);
• four-color (there are spots on the skin with smooth transitions, but a clear dark contour);
• blue - spots have an abnormal bluish tint;
• inflammatory (duochromic staining of the spots is combined with the presence of an inflamed raised contour).

By localization, vitiligo can be divided into:

• generalized (abnormal pigmentation can begin anywhere on the body);
• localized (spots appeared in places of direct exposure to harmful factors);
• universal (pigmentation is disturbed in large areas of the body, pathology can cover 70-80% of the skin).

Symptoms

Symptoms of vitiligo are cosmetic in nature, the patient does not experience any unpleasant subjective sensations. You can distinguish the disease from others by the following signs:

• fuzzy-shaped spots appear on the skin, they have a flesh-colored, white or bluish tint;
• areas with abnormal pigmentation tend to grow, several small areas may merge into one;
• spots do not itch, do not peel off, only color distinguishes them from ordinary skin;
• in the sun, areas with destroyed melanin quickly turn red, burn, and blister.

Causes

Symptoms of abnormal pigmentation can appear from birth with a hereditary form of the disease, then the number of spots increases with age. In adults, the causes of vitiligo are as follows:

• autoimmune disorders ( the immune system does not recognize own cells and begins to destroy them, in such cases vitiligo can be combined, for example, with lupus);
• diseases of the endocrine organs (thyroid gland, adrenal glands, epiphysis, pituitary gland, ovaries);
• skin pathologies (impaired blood flow and nutrition, failures in the division of dermal cells, frequent sun or chemical burns, aging);
• exposure to a number of chemicals (formaldehyde, phenols, reagents with bromine, fluorine and iodine, some cosmetics and medications).

Is hereditary transmission possible?

It has been experimentally proven that vitiligo skin disease occurs in 15-40% of cases in children whose parents have this pathology. This is due to a genetic disorder, due to which the synthesis of melanin in some epithelial cells slows down or stops; it is more pronounced in individuals that are haploid on this basis. In young children, pigmentation has the size of dots; with age, the spots grow especially under the influence of critical factors.

It is impossible to stop the development of pathology, it is only possible to restrain the appearance of new zones with abnormal pigmentation. People with a predisposition should know how vitiligo begins in order to start using drugs in time or do certain procedures to contain it.

stages

There are 4 main stages of vitiligo:

• initial;
• progressive;
• stationary;
• repigmentation.

At the initial stage, it is difficult to notice the signs of vitiligo in adults or children; 1-2 small spots of a milky shade may appear on the skin. As the pigment is destroyed, the difference in color between the abnormal area and the healthy cover becomes more noticeable. The initial stage of vitiligo can last a long time or even turn into a stationary one.

The progressive stage is characterized by the appearance of new age spots and an increase in the size of old ones, the symptoms of the disease appear brighter if you do not fight its cause. This stage can be slow or reactive, in the first case, new areas of abnormal color gradually appear in the patient, in the second case, the amount of pigmentation grows at lightning speed, up to two dozen new areas of a light shade can appear in a week.

At the stationary stage of vitiligo, the appearance of new spots and the growth of old ones stops, it can last a short period of time or become lifelong.

If the patient is struggling with abnormal skin pigmentation, then he may experience repigmentation - the return of normal skin color. When taking medications for vitiligo based on hormonal substances, the work of melanocytes can be restored, but they rarely begin their previous synthetic activity, so the areas of the spots will differ slightly in shade from healthy ones.

Danger

Owners of an unusual skin color often wonder if vitiligo is dangerous. The destruction of the natural pigment of the skin is fraught with partial or complete loss of protection from ultraviolet radiation in the affected area, with prolonged exposure to the sun, the dermis quickly burns, blisters appear on the surface. In addition, with vitiligo, the risk of developing dermatitis, psoriasis and baldness increases.

It is also worth noting that the skin disease vitiligo can seriously affect psychological condition the patient, as cosmetic symptoms often become the subject of ridicule or sidelong glances. Against the background of society's rejection of his illness, the patient develops an inferiority complex, a fear of wearing revealing clothes, and even depression.

Which doctor treats vitiligo?

Vitiligo is treated by a dermatologist.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of vitiligo begins with a dermatologist, who, with the help of an external examination of the patient's skin, will be able to clarify the diagnosis. But finding the cause is already more difficult, for this you need:

• pass biochemical analysis blood;
• pass a quantitative study of blood and urine;
• do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands;
• do an MRI of the head;
• be examined by a neuropathologist, allergist and immunologist;
• conduct a study of the genetic information of the parents, allowing to confirm or refute the hereditary origin of vitiligo.

Treatment

Before drinking any pills or doing procedures to get rid of pigmentation, you need to find out with your doctor what causes vitiligo in a patient with the help of diagnostics.

Is there a cure for vitiligo? Modern medicine allows people with this pathology to get rid of it or prevent the further development of pigmentation. For this, different methods are used:

• photosensitizing drugs based on plant furocoumarins (Beroxan, Meladinin, Psoberan, Lamadin);
• laser irradiation and phototherapy;
• treatment with ultraviolet lamps;
• transfer of healthy melanocytes from normal skin areas to areas with impaired pigmentation;
• general skin whitening with Hydroquinone, Monobenzone, Elokvin;
• external use of Melagenin, which helps to increase the activity of skin pigment cells.

Is it possible to completely get rid of vitiligo?

The question of how to get rid of vitiligo forever, patients regularly ask their attending physicians, the answer to it is not very comforting - you should not expect clear forecasts, since even with a complete restoration of melanocyte activity, there are no guarantees that a person will not have abnormal pigmentation again.

If you managed to get rid of vitiligo, the skin condition must be maintained by constant protection from ultraviolet radiation with the help of creams with SPF, do not injure it chemically or physically, avoid allergic reactions, take vitamin-mineral complexes with a high content of vitamin A, C and E.

Prevention

It is difficult to describe the prevention of vitiligo, since many factors in its development do not depend on the person. In order to prevent the development of abnormal pigmentation of the skin, it is worth:

• avoid prolonged sunbathing;
• use sunscreen on open areas of the body all year round (sun activity does not depend on ambient temperature);
• avoid working with chemicals or if contact with them is necessary, use protection;
• when buying new cosmetics, you should pay attention to the composition, the presence of mineral oils, formaldehyde, phenol and alcohol in it is an alarming sign;
• clarify with the doctor the possibility of pigmentation before starting hormone therapy or when taking antibiotics, antitumor and other drugs.

Vitiligo is a hereditary or acquired disorder of the natural pigmentation of the skin caused by various factors. This disorder is characterized by the appearance in the tissues of the dermis of areas with destroyed natural pigment - melanin. The disease proceeds in several stages, each of them has its own symptoms.

Therapy of vitiligo depends on the causes of the disease, it does not always give the desired result. Prevention of vitiligo reduces the risk of abnormal pigmentation, but it cannot help if it is caused by heredity or chronic diseases of the endocrine organs.

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Vilitigo is not a fully understood dermatological disease, its most striking manifestation is a noticeable white skin color in the form of spots. Such fading is connected with the fact that melanin pigment begins to disappear from the skin. The disease is not fatal, but causes a lot of trouble.

Causes

At first, it was believed that vitiligo could be caused not only by a virus, but also by an infection. Penetrating under the skin, the virus begins to act on the subcutaneous layer, destroying melanin, from the lack of which the skin begins to lighten and vitiligo spots appear. Neuropsychic stress, severe emotional trauma and, especially, disease spinal cord can lead to such a disease. The most common causes of vitiligo are:

The most common site for vitiligo disease to appear is in areas of the skin that are regularly irritated because tight shoes hurts the foot, a heavy backpack tightens the skin on the shoulders, a tight belt frays the skin. In all these places, active infection can begin, the skin will become dryish, then it will begin to fade.

The infection is exclusively acquired by the carrier, it is not genetically transmitted, and vitiligo is very rare in children. The most vulnerable to it are middle-aged people, teenagers become infected infrequently. At the moment, cases of infection have decreased, but surrounding harmful factors and frequent stress increases the risk of vitiligo. In the skin, the pigment melanin is responsible for the rich color of the skin and its healthy appearance, which is why vitiligo, destroying this pigment, immediately manifests itself in the form of spots.

Symptoms

When a disease occurs, melanin begins to disappear from the skin, so specific spots form: oval or more oblong shapes, as the disease develops, the spots grow. Vitiligo on the face can be seen very clearly: the skin becomes thinner and more tender. As a rule, such spots have a bright white color, they are noticeable even on fair skin, the border of the formation is clearly visible.

The stages of vitiligo characterize the width of the spots and their distribution. The spots do not protrude above the skin, to the touch they are practically indistinguishable from healthy areas, there are no scaly formations. Rarely there are spots inside the spots. The lesion expands and may merge with other spots into long oblong lines. In rare cases, if left untreated, the patches cover most of the skin.

Spots can appear on any part of the skin, even on the eyebrows and exposed areas of the head, are often found on the genitals, can appear between the buttocks or on the outside of the genitals, so they can be mistaken for a sexually transmitted disease. If the disease affects areas of the skin covered with hair, then they first lighten, and then fade completely. Sunburn will not help hide such spots. The skin on the infected areas does not change color. For large stains, this can affect the release of perspiration. In the affected areas of vitiligo, other diseases may develop. skin diseases, such as:

• porphyrin disease;
• scleroderma;
• white skin atrophy;
• nest baldness.

The disease of vitiligo proceeds chronically, at first practically imperceptible spots appear, which spread more and more over time. Therapy does not affect them much, the disease can develop both for months and years. Scrapings taken from the site of the focus indicate the absence of melanin, while the edges of the focus contain them in excess. The body perceives the disease as an allergy and begins to produce the necessary antibodies, but they do not act on the disease.

How to Diagnose

In the hospital, a doctor can easily diagnose vitiligo, but it is better, of course, to donate blood and scrapings for analysis. The focus of the lesion does not contain melanin pigment, it focuses on its border, within the limits above the norm. Some diseases can also be manifested by similar spots:

• similar spots can cause venereal diseases, especially during syphilis. Often they give additional symptoms, itching in the anus and irritation of the mucous membrane;
• versicolor versicolor can also leave characteristic spots that disappear with time. At the site of the formation of such spots, vitiligo can develop, then the skin will quickly lighten;
• leprosy forms light patches, not as light as vitiligo, but can spread widely. An important feature of leprosy is that the places of its defeat are devoid of sensitivity: with strong pressure, the skin does not react.

For clarification, it is necessary to pass the appropriate tests to the laboratory and consult with a dermatologist.

A photo

The photo of vitiligo clearly shows how the disease is expressed.

Photos of celebrities

Spots are clearly visible in the photo of vitiligo. Vitiligo is also found in celebrities. They hurt like famous people like Michael Jackson and Lee Thomas, and Chanel Brown Young is a model with vitiligo, although the disease did not interfere with her career.

How to cure

There is no ideal method of treatment, it works for every organism different way. Very rare cases where the spots simply disappeared over time. The treatment of vitiligo is a long process that requires constant monitoring, otherwise you can return to initial stage illness. It is not always possible to completely get rid of the disease, you can stop the spread of spots and make them smaller. The most effective options for how to cure vitiligo:

• the most important thing is to resume the normal metabolism of the patient, for this they apply various drugs improving metabolic process. Preparations containing melanin pigment are prescribed;
• the affected areas are treated with alcohol;
• most effectively, together with the procedures, carry out ultraviolet irradiation of the affected tissues, before that they are treated with a special preparation;
• PUVA therapy with the help of ultraviolet light introduces various drugs, hormones and medicines under the skin. They provide fast local treatment;
• if local treatment is used, it is impossible to lubricate the eye area and eyelids with special solutions.

Children under the age of 5 years are more difficult to treat, most drugs are contraindicated for them. People with weak immunity and complex chronic diseases, as well as old age, most drugs can harm. The first course of therapy is a month, then the doctor prescribes repetitions of courses. They can be carried out throughout life or until the disease is cured.

Hormonal drugs have a positive effect on the body, paired with vitamins E and A. But only a doctor can prescribe hormones and only after passing the tests. How to treat vitiligo and how, only a specialist determines. A group of hormones for the adrenal cortex most actively slows down the spread of the disease. People who have the following diseases, this group is contraindicated:

• hypertension, as well as heart disease;
• skin diseases;
• diabetes;
• osteoporosis;
• tuberculosis;
• diseases manifested by purulent formation;
• diseases associated with the stomach.

Since a group of hormones is prohibited, alternative drugs can be used.

Therapy in the treatment of vitiligo is being improved and new drugs are being tested, but the most effective treatment of all types of illness, there is always a timely visit to the doctor. While the disease is just beginning to develop, it is much easier to cure. To eliminate a cosmetic defect, a vitiligo cream is used. It doesn't completely hide stains, but it's very effective. The ointment will help the skin to smooth out a little and breathe again. Can be treated and folk remedies, but it helps very rarely, they mainly use decoctions and ointments, but they, like other drugs, only slow down the disease. The photo before and after the treatment of vitiligo shows the use of ointments and creams after courses of therapy, but not everyone can be completely cured by such means.

Photos of treatment before and after

See photos before and after treatment.

Treatment with folk remedies

Vitiligo treatment folk methods quite possibly, tinctures and creams on a natural basis are used. The following methods are most effective, although they do not guarantee 100% results:

• St. John's wort oil. St. John's wort is dried, then it needs to be crushed and put in a jar, pour vegetable-based oil. The remedy should be infused for at least two weeks. Such a tincture has a weak effect due to its low concentration, but it is still worth a try;
• strongly concentrated St. John's wort oil. Only St. John's wort flowers are taken, without stem and foliage. The jar is filled with them tightly and to the top, leaving a couple of centimeters to close the lid. Next, oil is poured, you can use not only sunflower oil, but also, for example, sea buckthorn. The mixture should be infused in the sun or in a warm place for two weeks. The tincture gives a more significant effect due to its high concentration;
• black cumin oil. This oil can be rubbed as a ready-made tincture, it has good properties, it is useful not only for the skin, but also relieves fatigue. Black cumin oil can be found in pharmacies or cosmetic stores;
• marsh duckweed tincture. Marsh duckweed has a number healing properties, it contains iodine and bromine salt, which have a positive effect on the body. To prepare such a tincture, you need to use the duckweed itself and vodka. First, the duckweed is washed under the tap and placed in a jar. For one teaspoon of duckweed, you need to take 50 gr. vodka, you can use alcohol, but a little diluted. After pouring, the tincture stands for a week in a dark place. Then the product must be filtered through cheesecloth. No more than 20 drops of tincture are used per glass of water and it is used every day;
• black pepper. Ground black pepper has not only taste, but also healing properties. Scientists have proven that pepper can be used to treat vitiligo, thanks to piperine, which is part of it, it has a positive effect on the skin. Ground pepper apply to damaged dry skin and rub in a little. After 20 minutes of being on the skin, it can be washed off;
• ointment for vitiligo from sulsen. You can find sulsen ointment in a pharmacy or cosmetic store, it is used as an alternative and sulsen paste. It is best to buy a 2% ointment, the agent is applied to problem areas for half an hour, after which it is carefully wiped off;
• ground sesame. Sesame works well on the skin, but you need to take it inside. Sesame seeds are ground through a blender or coffee grinder, in the morning and evening you need to eat a teaspoon of ground sesame powder. The effect will become noticeable when yellow shades appear on the spots. Within a month, you can cure vitiligo completely, after which you should stop using sesame seeds;
• onion and garlic. Effective in use against vitiligo spots are garlic and onions, which are cut into two parts and rub the spots with them for five minutes, several times a day. You need to alternate onions and garlic, one day rub one, the other the other.

You can use several methods at once, the main thing is to find out what works best and apply them only after consulting a doctor.

Their reviews on the treatment of vitiligo in various medical forums were left by people who have undergone treatment, and those who have just started. Such a practice is very important: those who have been fighting the disease for years tell what helped them most effectively, and what is just a waste of time. Not so long ago, it is very informative and useful for those who have become ill to read such reviews. If we talk about such a disease as vitiligo, the history of recovery of each is very important for people who are just starting to deal with the disease.