Dermatology

Vitiligo

Which is the most commonest skin condition that causes white spots on skin the answer is pigmentation disorder Vitiligo.  Among  other skin conditions which causes white patches in skin like  Tinea Versicolor, Nevus depigmentosus, Pityriasis Alba and  Albinism etc  Vitiligo skin disease is the most common skin condition.

Skin spots either white or black affect the beauty and grace of person. A major aging factor and some time cause a hard emotional distress.  In most of the cases patients have to suffer burning in these skin spots when there body exposed to the sunlight specially in moderate sun hours.

In this page we will discuss following topis:-

Why Vitiligo occurs

What is the Pigmentation

What are Melanocytes and Melanin

Why Vitiligo occurs

If we talk in the microscopic view that what happens in the skin when white skin spots of Vitiligo appear. Our skin contain special skin cells melanocytes, these are normally referred  as color producing cells. These cells produce pigmentation for the skin the pigmentation substance called “melanin”. Melanin is responsible for the specific skin coloration. When a damage of melanocytes cells causes deficiency of the melanin in the skin  as a result, white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. The hair may also turn white that grows in areas affected by Vitiligo.

Why Color producing cells are destroyed, there are many theories in this regards. Most reliable causes about the cells destructions   are auto-immunity, genetics, emotional distress and the severe sunburn.

Although the real causes are still hidden.

What is the Pigmentation

Pigmentation is the process of skin in which skin cells produce the skin coloration material. Disturbance in this process results in the appearance of different type of spots in the skin.

Skin is the largest organ of the skin as well as a source of  grace and beauty for a person and  skin color play an important role  in  a person’s physical look and appearance. Any skin color either white or black look well without the appearance of different type of spots or blotches on skin. So a healthy and smooth pigmentation process is necessary for the healthy skin.

What are Melanocytes and Melanin

If we talk about Vitiligo and pigmentation the skin cells Melanocytes are important role players. Melanocytes  provide special coloring substance  melanin to the skin.

A coloring substance in our bodies is called melanin. It protects body from absorbing harmful Ultra Violet rays. The special skin cells that produce melanin called melanocytes.

Melanin play an important role in pigmentation or depigmentation of skin. If body produce too much melanin it causes hyper-pigmentation and in inverse case if produces low melanin it causes hypo pigmentation in skin.

Depigmentation and White Spots on Skin

Depigmentation occurs when  melanocytes cells produces  a low quantity of  melanin.

Hypo-pigmentation or depigmentation, ratio of such problems is less than that of hyper-pigmentation problems. Normally such skin condition causes  white patches on skin.

In depigmentation the skin becomes lighter as compared to its surrounding.  Example of skin condition causes depigmentation are nevus depigmentosus (quite stable scars may appear any part of body), Pityriasis Alba (a common condition in children), Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, vitiligo and  white scars due to injuries.

Hyper Pigmentation and Dark Skin Spots 

Hyper pigmentation  occurs due the excess of  melanin in a particular part of the body.

It is Hyper-pigmentation due to which  dark spots appear in skin. These spots may be of reddish, black or brown in color. Severe sunburn is the major cause of such type of pigmentation problems. A common example of hyper pigmentation is melasma in which dark spots appear on the cheeks and top of nose.

Not info about the vitiligo is get from the site http://www.antivitiligo.com/