Coping with Leucoderma (Vitiligo): the White Spot Disease

What Is Leucoderma (Vitiligo)?

Vitiligo (also called white spot disease) is a skin disorder characterized by total skin color loss in the affected area.

• Vitiligo is a common disorder of skin affecting all races with nearly equal distribution.

• Skin lesions are porcelain or marble white.

• There is a susceptibility for new lesions to develop on the sites of trauma or friction.

• There is an increased risk of vitiligo in the offspring born to patients of vitiligo.

What Are The Causes Of Vitiligo?

The exact cause is not known, but it is usually known to be hereditary.

• It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system fights on our cells that produce pigment.

• It might show up due to stress, overexposure to the sun, or chemicals.

Some of the most frequent causes of Leucoderma might involve traumatic incidents, including accidental cuts, thermal burns, Psoriasis, Eczema, and ulcers following the development of the white patches. Leucoderma can also be caused due to Congenital abnormalities, like partial albinism, Tuberous sclerosis, Waardenburg syndrome, and Piebaldism. This issue can also result from some immunological conditions like Vitiligo, Melanoma-associated leucoderma, Halo mole, or vitiligo. Certain medications like EGFR inhibitors, Intralesional steroid injections, and others could likewise cause Leucoderma. Certain chemicals like butyl-phenol can also trigger the symptoms and may cause Leucoderma.

What Are The Symptoms of Vitiligo?

Leucoderma is more common in females than in males. We can usually see it on the hands, neck, back, and wrist. Though this condition does not cause any systemic impairment, the patches indeed will look ugly and upsetting. Vitiligo can attack people of any age and sex and can be seen on any skin. The symptoms may include:

• White, oval macules, well-demarcated, and patches.

• Unpredictable rate of spread or enlargement of these patches.

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• Premature whitening or graying of the hair, light hair color.

• Change in color inside mouth and nose.

What are the Risk Factors for Leucoderma?

You should be more careful if you have one or more of the following:

• Family history of vitiligo.

• Autoimmune diseases like hyperthyroidism and some other hormonal disorders like diabetes, pernicious anemia, Addison's disease, etc.

• Black moles surrounded by a rim of marble white-colored skin.

• Graying of hairs with an early onset.

Doubtful or fresh lesions can be confirmed using special light (UV Light or Woods' lamp). Leucoderma patches get accentuated under such lighting.

How To Diagnose Leucoderma?

If the doctor suspects Leucoderma's symptoms, the doctor might investigate your medical history and conduct a thorough examination of other related skin disorders, including dermatitis and psoriasis. The physician might also use a unique lamp for shining the ultraviolet light into the skin to decide whether you have Leucoderma or not. Under ultraviolet light, the leucoderma skin may appear as milky white. The doctor might again ask for a skin biopsy and blood test towards diagnosing Leucoderma. Once the symptoms and causes of Leucoderma have been determined, the doctor might recommend the required treatments or remedies.

What Is The Treatment For Leucoderma?

The Leucoderma treatment's main objective includes the correction of the body's metabolism and improving the overall immune system. This will enhance the ability of pigmentation in the involved area. Most of the treatments for Leucoderma might help in rejuvenating the skin color. The effects of the treatment might differ from one person to another. Some of the standard therapies for Leucoderma include:

• Medications including creams for managing inflammation, and medicines for improving the immunity system, and others.

• Ointments like Tacrolimus and Pimecrolimus are effective for repigmentation of small skin areas.

• Corticosteroids like Betamethasone valerate and Clobetasol Propionate help restore color or aid repigmentation.

• Therapies are combining light therapy, psoralen, and removal of the remaining color that is de-pigmentation.

• Surgery includes:

1. Skin grafting where a small part of the normally pigmented skin is eliminated and engrafted in the discolored areas).

2. Blister grafting where small blisters are formed in the normal pigmented area fixed on the affected area).

3. Micro-pigmentation where pigments are implanted into the skin through a particular surgical instrument in tattooing).

What Are The Home Remedies for Leucoderma?

• Applying mustard oil and turmeric paste.

• Using honey juice and margosa leaves.

• Improving the intake of zinc and copper.

• Drinking a glass of neem juice is effective in treating Leucoderma.

What Are The Factors That Increase the Risk of Treatment Difficulties?

• Onset in younger age.

• Lesions on the lips and tips of fingers and toes.

• Past treatment failures.

What Are The Complications of Vitiligo?

Complications of vitiligo may include:

• Depression.

• The sensitivity of the skin.

• Skin cancer.

• Loss of hearing

• Painful sunburns

• Production of the tear.

• Inflammation of the iris.

• Vision changes.

What Foods to Be Avoided in Leucoderma?

Patients with Leucoderma should avoid highly antigenic foods like:

• Fish.

• Meat.

• Eggs.

What Are The Points To Be Remembered in Leucoderma?

• The course of vitiligo is punctuated with remissions and relapses.

• The presently available treatment modalities are not definitive.

• It helps to be concerned about the disease and to follow the recommendations of your physician. Still, any anxiety on this account should preferably be avoided by participating in the community just like normal productive individuals.

• As far as possible, stay away from the sunlight or use sunscreen in the recommended manner.

• Join or start a support group to share and discuss leucoderma-related concerns and to exchange emotional support.

• Consider using concealers or tattooing to mask white patches.

• Narrow Band Ultraviolet Light NBUV is one of the safest and effective treatments that can be done at home or a treatment center.

• A thorough checkup of the eyes is a must for every patient with Leucoderma because, as a leucoderma patient, the probability of having certain eye disorders is greater.