What is Vitiligo?

May 31, 2021

Apart from looking fkn gobsmackingly drop dead gorgeous, what actually is Vitiligo? And how does it change how the body functions?

What causes Vitiligo?

There are two types of vitiligo:

Non-segmental

• most common form 9 in 10 
• thought to be an autoimmune condition
• instead of attacking foreign cells, the immune system attacks healthy cells i.e the melanocyte skin cells

Segmental

• Thought to be caused by chemicals released from nerve endings in your skin that poison the melanocyte skin cells.

Universal

• occurs in the rarest of cases
• affects entire body

Characteristics

The most commonly affected areas include:

• eyes
• mouth (internally and externally)
• fingers
• armpits
• groin
• wrist

It can sometimes develop at the root of hairs such as the scalp, which can effect the melanin in your hair too.

It usually starts with a pale patch on the skin that eventually turns to white or pinky white (if blood vessels are under the patch of skin).

Patch edges can be smooth or irregular, sometimes becoming inflamed or hyper-pigmented. And the patch as a whole can be occasionally itchy.

With current technology the patches are usually permanent however there are many ways to minimise them.

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