Vlcc School Vitiligo and Associated Myth
                     Vlcc School Vitiligo and Associated Myth
• Vitiligo can be a psychologically devastating disease, especially for patients with darker skin 
photo types, such as those with brown or black skin. The term Vitiligo is believed to be 
derived from “vitium”, meaning “defect” or “blemish”.
• Vitiligo is a disorder in which white patches appear on the surface of the skin in different 
parts of the body
• 1 This happens because the cells that make pigment (color) in the skin are destroyed. 
• 2 These cells are called melanocytes. 
• Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder of the skin, which is caused by circumscribed and de-
pigmented macules forming patches on the skin. Vitiligo is a progressive disorder in which 
some or all of the melanocytes in the affected skin are selectively destroyed.
Vitiligo affects 0. 5% – 2% of the world population.
Although several theories have been proposed about the pathogenesis of vitiligo, the precise 
reasons for this disorder are still unknown. Generally agreed upon principles and theories 
suggest that the disorder emanates due to the absence of functional melanocytes in 
vitiligo skin and a loss of his to-chemically recognized melanocytes, owing to their 
destruction. However, the destruction is most likely a slow process resulting in a progressive 
decrease of melanocytes.

Additionally it is believed that genetic factors may influence the age of 
onset of vitiligo. The inheritance of vitiligo may include:
• 1 Genes associated with the biosynthesis of melanin,
• 2 Response to oxidative stress, and
• 3 Regulation of autoimmunity.
• Myth 1: Vitiligo is an outcome of the wrong combination of foods, for instance, milk and fish consumption.
• Fact: Factually, vitiligo has no link with diet or particular foods. It is irrational to deprive patients of food items 
like lemon, curd, tomatoes, and pickles in the hope of diminishing the possibility of the disease.
• Myth 2: People with vitiligo disorders are lesser productive in their mental or physical proficiencies. Fact: 
Vitiligo is limited entirely to the skin. It has no relationship with or does not influence or affect any other 
organ.
• Myth 3: Vitiligo is a kind of leprosy and is communicable.
• Fact: Vitiligo is in no way linked to leprosy. It is not infectious or contagious and, hence, cannot pass on from 
one person to another.
• Myth 4: Vitiligo is connected to serious skin diseases, such as skin cancer and albinism.
• Fact: There are transparent dissimilarities among each of these syndromes, and these diseases are not linked 
to Vitiligo.
• Myth 5: Vitiligo is untreatable.
• Fact: Medications like steroids, Ultraviolet A, immune modulator drugs and the newer narrowband 
Ultraviolet B are accessible treatments to prevent the spread of vitilog in the body. There also exist several 
surgical options to remove the white patches caused by Vitiligo.
Let’s see some myths about Vitiligo
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