Does your skin also have numerous white patches that make you feel a little different from others? Does your confidence also shake from time to time? Then you can understand what Vitiligo is, it is a condition where the skin loses its pigment, creating white patches on the skin. It affects about 1% of the world’s population which means around 70 million people suffer from vitiligo. Let’s understand what it is and why does skin lose color-

What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo can cause your skin to appear lighter than your natural skin tone or turn white, it is a long-term disease. The areas of the skin that lose their pigmentation are called macules (less than 1 centimeter wide) and patches (larger than 1 centimeter). It can also turn your hair white or silver. This happens when the body’s immune system destroys melanocytes, the cells that make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, are killed or cease to exist. You know about 1000 out of every 100,000 persons suffer from vitiligo.

Who can get affected by Vitiligo?

Vitiligo can equally affect males and females, but some studies show that women are more prone to autoimmune skin disorders. Researchers believe that half of patients start to exhibit symptoms by the age of 20, and vitiligo usually appears via macules and patches before the age of thirty. Early development of the disease in children could be linked to family history.  One might also end up with Vitiligo by having a family member with this disease or with any autoimmune disease. It is more prominent in people with darker skin color. 

Certain autoimmune diseases have a higher risk of developing, like:

• Psoriasis
• Anemia
• Diabetes type 1
• Addison’s disease
• Thyroid 
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Alopecia Areata

What are the symptoms of Vitiligo?

Vitiligo usually starts as a pale patch of skin that slowly turns completely white. A patch may have a white center surrounded by paler skin. Instead of being white, the patch may be slightly pink if there are blood vessels beneath the skin. Common areas usually affected by vitiligo are:

• Armpits
• Groins
• Genitals
• Mouth and eyes
• Fingers and wrists
• Inside your mouth 

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The most common vitiligo symptoms are as follows:

1. Patchy loss of skin color

2. Premature whitening or graying of the hair on your scalp, eyelashes, beard, and eyebrows.

3. Color loss in the mucous membranes, which are tissues lining the inside of the mouth and nose.

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What are the causes of Vitiligo?

Vitiligo happens when melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) die or stop producing melanin (the pigment that colors your skin, hair, and eyes). The parts affected initially become white or lighter. Several skin discoloration causes like:

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1. Genetic predisposition - Gene mutation can increase the risk as approximately 30% of people affected by this disease have family members struggling with it. Certain gene mutations can increase the risk of Vitiligo.

2. Autoimmune reactions- As you already know, vitiligo is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin, resulting in the loss of pigmentation and the development of patches. 

3. Environmental factors-Vitiligo can be brought on by or made worse by a sunburn, or chemical exposure. In particular, late-onset vitiligo is associated with stress.

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What are the Types of Vitiligo?

Vitiligo can vary in the way it is presented and understanding its types can help in diagnosis and management. Here are the types of Vitiligo you should look out for:

1. Generalised:

It is the most common type of vitiligo, accounting for 90% of the cases. It is presented as widespread patches across different body parts. These patches are often symmetrical.

2. Segmental:

This kind only impacts a single part of your body, such as your face or hands. It usually starts at a young age and increases for a few years before stabilizing. 

3. Mucosal:

It affects mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth and genital areas. It leads to depigmentation and is confined to mucosal tissues.

4. Focal:

A rare kind of vitiligo known as focal vitiligo occurs when the macules form in a small area and do not spread out in a specific pattern throughout one to two years.

5. Trichome:

The central depigmented area, an intermediate zone of lighter skin, and the surrounding normal pigmented skin are the three distinct color zones that surround a depigmented area in trichomes, a kind of vitiligo. It indicates that vitiligo is active and progressing, which means that skin depigmentation is still being caused by the condition. 

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What are the Stages of Vitiligo?

Vitiligo affects everyone differently. Some people experience a rapid loss of skin color in patches, and then after this, there comes a time when the condition remains unchanged. It can be classified into these stages:

1. Localised- When one or two small areas of the skin are affected that is the localised stage. There are some early signs to know if you are on this stage such as skin may turn pale and then white. If beneath the skin blood vessels are visible, these patches may appear pale pink instead. 

2. Generalised- The central depigmented area, an intermediate zone of lighter skin, and the surrounding normal pigmented skin are the three distinct color zones that surround a depigmented area in trichome, a kind of vitiligo.

3. Universal- The universal stage causes broad depigmentation across the body as nearly all skin pigment is lost.  

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Management and recovery

Managing Vitiligo can be done with the help of lifestyle changes. Here are some tips for living with the condition:

• Anti-inflammatory Diet: Maintaining a balanced diet rich in vegetables and meat supports overall health. Certain dietary changes help in the long run and help in managing the condition. 
• Emotional and mental well-being: The appearance of vitiligo can impact individual confidence and self-esteem which hampers individual growth. Inculcating a variety of wellness activities helps like meditation, exercise, yoga, and more. It helps in boosting morale, it helps in managing stress.
• Sun protection: Protecting your skin from the sun is crucial, as depigmented areas are more susceptible to sunburn. You can wear protective clothing, seek shade, and avoid tanning beds. 
• Corrects nutrients: People suffering from vitiligo need nutrients like omega 3, zinc, vitamin D, B complex, and protein. Individuals dealing with this disease also need to check the environmental toxins and remove them.

Conclusion

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease and exploring the symptoms, causes, types, and stages can help people suffering through it to tackle it better. It is believed that it involves a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers. Understanding the symptoms, causes, types, and stages of vitiligo is crucial for effective management. Functional nutrition and lifestyle changes can help manage the illness and make you feel better, even though there isn't a permanent solution. For your free consultation, you can contact iThrive. Living with vitiligo with confidence requires embracing self-care, getting professional advice, and creating a supportive atmosphere.

References

1. Pfizer. (n.d.-b). Vitiligo Overview: Types, causes, symptoms, and treatment | Pfizer. https://www.pfizer.com/disease-and-conditions/vitiligo.
2. Al-Smadi, K., Imran, M., Leite-Silva, V. R., & Mohammed, Y. (2023). Vitiligo: A review of aetiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and psychosocial impact. Cosmetics, 10(3), 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics10030084
3. Vitiligo. (2025, March 19). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12419-vitiligo
4. Gandhi, K., Ezzedine, K., Anastassopoulos, K. P., Patel, R., Sikirica, V., Daniel, S. R., Napatalung, L., Yamaguchi, Y., Baik, R., & Pandya, A. G. (2021). Prevalence of vitiligo among adults in the United States. JAMA Dermatology, 158(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.4724
5. Vitiligo: MedlinePlus Genetics. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/vitiligo/
6. Khalid AlGhamdi1 , Ashok Kumar2 , Noura Moussa2