Frequently Asked Questions:


When to see a doctor?
See your doctor if areas of your skin, hair or eyes lose coloring. Although there's no cure for vitiligo, treatments exist that may help to stop or slow the process of depigmentation and attempt to return some color to your skin.
 
Some, though not all patients, do experience itching of the skin prior to or while depigmentation is occurring. 

Will the vitiligo patches spread over time? Will they get larger? 
In many, but certainly not all cases, vitiligo does progress slowly over time, but there is really no way to tell whether your vitiligo will progress or not. It is a slow progressing mostly condition however, and many patients report that they may go many years without new patches developing, and then may discover new patches appearing years later. Some people even report spots that spontaneously repigment, with no treatment at all. Use of new technologies however, may be able to arrest new spots in their development and repigment white patches. 


What is generalized vitiligo? 
Most people find that their vitiligo develops in a generalized way, most often with bilateral and symmetrical characteristics, meaning that if a vitiligo patch appears on one elbow, it often appears on the other elbow about the same time.

Is vitiligo at all contagious?
Vitiligo is NOT contagious. It is a genetic disease, caused by inheritance of multiple causal genes simultaneously, possibly in different combinations in different people, plus exposure to environmental risk factors that remain mostly unknown.


What is oxidative stress?
This is one theory about what may cause or contribute to the onset or exacerbation of vitiligo. Oxidative stress is an over-accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the skin. Every person develops hydrogen peroxide in the skin, as a result of natural biological processes. An enzyme called "catalase" normally breaks down the hydrogen peroxide in the skin into water and oxygen. However, some people with vitiligo may have a problem manufacturing, using or delivering catalase to the skin. 

Is it true that genetics may play a part in vitiligo?
Most experts believe that there is a genetic base to vitiligo which leads to susceptibility. In about 12% of families where a person has vitiligo, the condition is seen in another family member. Though no one else in your family may show signs of vitiligo, it is still possible that it is passed on genetically. The most likely reason for this is that more than one gene is responsible for the development of vitiligo. In fact, a combination of genes that may prove to be involved. In some cases, an independent stimulus may cause the condition to onset. 

Is it true that exposure to certain chemicals can cause vitiligo?
Some chemicals, particularly photography chemicals such as Phenols, can trigger vitiligo in those who are susceptible. Phenols can also be found in many types of hair colorings, household stains, and similar products. There are other industrial chemicals and substances which may also trigger the onset of vitiligo. 

Are there things that a person with vitiligo should avoid?
In addition to the phenol type chemicals listed in the previous paragraph, there are other things and activities which people with vitiligo should avoid. Unfortunately, the list of activities, products and chemicals to avoid varies, depending on who you talk to. Our Main Message Board has numerous topics about this subject, however, we will be updating this section shortly, with a list of some of the things many people agree may make vitiligo worse. 
How is thyroid function related to vitiligo?
Thyroid disorders are extremely common in every ethnic and racial group on the planet. 

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland just below the Adam's apple. This gland plays an important role in controlling the body's metabolism, that is, how the body functions. It does this by producing thyroid hormones (T4 and T3), chemicals that travel through the blood to every part of the body. Thyroid hormones tell the body how fast to work and use energy. 

Because vitiligo may well be related to numerous functions within the body, a properly functioning thyroid (or sufficient supplemental hormone) could be important in treating vitiligo. 
If I am pregnant and have vitiligo, will my child develop vitiligo?
Most people with vitiligo have no relatives with vitiligo. However, enough people with vitiligo do have parents, or siblings or children who develop vitiligo that a genetic factor does appear to exist. 

 What is an auto immune disorder?
Auto immune disorder is a condition in which the immune system of the person reacts against their body tissues and organs. It is also a condition in which the immune system of the body produces antibodies. But it is not the immune deficiency but in case of Vitiligo this immune system sees the pigment cells as a foreign body and because of that it attacks them. Some of the examples of auto immune disorder are thyroid disorders, alopecia areata, lupus, and pernicious anemia.
 What is melanin?
Melanin is a pigment of skin as well as hairs which will be present in human begins as well as animals. They will be dark brown in color. These melanin pigments are synthesized by the melanocytes which are the special cells and also help in storing the melanin pigments. Melanin pigments are the pigments which gives color to the skin as well the hair for human beings as well as for animals. These melanin pigments are derived from the amino acids tyrosine. When these melanin pigments fail to work properly then it will result in the condition of Vitiligo.

 What is oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress is one of the sources for the Vitiligo to happen or to occur in any one. Oxidative stress is nothing but the over accumulation of the hydrogen peroxide in the skin. Each and every person will have this hydrogen peroxide in the skin and an enzyme which is known as catalase helps in breaking down this hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen in the skin. People who find problem in manufacturing this enzyme which is the catalase will develop with the problem of Vitiligo.

What is PUVA – SOL?
Patients who are not able to go for the facility of PUVA for the treatment then they might be advised to ahead for the psoralen which can be used with the natural sun light. This treatment can be carried out at home itself by the patients. But the patient should carry over the instructions which are said by the doctor in order to get the best result. Also there should be regular visit to the doctor to monitor the status of your condition during this treatment.

What is narrow band UVB?
This is a new technology which has been introduced to treat the effect of Vitiligo. In this treatment there will be fewer risks experienced and there won’t be any severe burning or any other harmful things happening to the skin. Also there won’t be any side effects associated with it as there are no needs of medications to be taken in this method. There are many benefits associated with this treatment and because of that it has become more popular among the people and many are coming forward to carry over this treatment.