Vitiligo Facts and Myths

Vitiligo is a common skin condition that affects 1-2 percent of people. It is more obvious in darker skin due to the contrast in skin tone. Vitiligo appears as white patches or lightening of the skin over time. The most common areas affected include the face, hands, feet and torso. Whitening of the skin occurs due to autoimmunity. This means that our immune cells attack the pigment cells in our skin, causing them to lie dormant or die off.  Vitiligo treatments aim to stop such attacks and re-pigment affected cells. This in turn gives us back our colour.                     

Here are some common myths surrounding vitiligo and an attempt to debunk the misconceptions prevalent in society:                                       

Myth 1: Vitiligo is untreatable.                       
Fact: Medical science has given us a wide range of options to battle this disease. Vitiligo is curable. Treatment is no doubt difficult and slow, and not all patients respond alike. However, it is more important to rid the stigma than the disease, as the mental impact is far more detrimental than the effect on physical wellbeing.             

Myth 2: Vitiligo is a type of leprosy and is contagious.                                                
Fact: Vitiligo is no way related to leprosy. It is not contagious and therefore, cannot spread from one person to another via touch, saliva, blood, breath, intercourse or sharing of personal items.              

Myth 3: Vitiligo is related to certain foods.
Fact: There is no direct correlation between vitiligo and diet. However, there are unproven studies that suggest that avoiding acidic foods may help. Other reports say that consuming foods high in antioxidants can re-pigment vitiligo patches.
Myth 4: Vitiligo is caused by stress.               
Fact: Stress does not cause vitiligo. However, stress, feeling low and trauma may make it worse and help spread the white patches by suppressing the immune system.              

Myth 5: Vitiligo causes physical and mental dysfunction.                                                
Fact: Vitiligo is purely a disease of the skin. Therefore, it has no connection with or does not affect or influence any other body parts, organs or intelligence level.                            

Myth 6: Vitiligo is related to other skin disorders such as albinism and skin cancers.  
Fact: There are clear distinctions between each of these disorders and none of them are related. Individuals with albinism are born with little or no melanin in their skin, whereas vitiligo onset occurs during one’s lifetime as the melanocytes become damaged. Also, vitiligo rarely encompasses the entire body like albinism. While skin cancers arise from mutations in DNA and grow uncontrolled, vitiligo occurs through completely different mechanisms.

Due to the myths that surround this skin condition, people tend to avoid vililigans, but many celebrities have this disease and they have overcome prejudice to enjoy successful careers. Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan is a sufferer but remains one of the biggest stars in Bollywood. The late ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson was another famous vitiligan, who changed the world of music with his groundbreaking contributions.

The writer is a consultant dermatologist at the Al Manar Hospital.

Vitiligo Facts and Myths

Vitiligo is a common skin condition that affects 1-2 percent of people. It is more obvious in darker skin due to the contrast in skin tone. Vitiligo appears as white patches or lightening of the skin over time. The most common areas affected include the face, hands, feet and torso. Whitening of the skin occurs due to autoimmunity. This means that our immune cells attack the pigment cells in our skin, causing them to lie dormant or die off. Vitiligo treatments aim to stop such attacks and re-pigment affected cells. This in turn gives us back our colour. Here are some common myths surrounding vitiligo and an attempt to debunk the misconceptions prevalent in society: Myth 1: Vitiligo is untreatable. Fact: Medical science has given us a wide range of options to battle this disease. Vitiligo is curable. Treatment is no doubt difficult and slow, and not all patients respond alike. However, it is more important to rid the stigma than the disease, as the mental impact is far more detrimental than the effect on physical wellbeing. Myth 2: Vitiligo is a type of leprosy and is contagious. Fact: Vitiligo is no way related to leprosy. It is not contagious and therefore, cannot spread from one person to another via touch, saliva, blood, breath, intercourse or sharing of personal items. Myth 3: Vitiligo is related to certain foods. Fact: There is no direct correlation between vitiligo and diet. However, there are unproven studies that suggest that avoiding acidic foods may help. Other reports say that consuming foods high in antioxidants can re-pigment vitiligo patches. Myth 4: Vitiligo is caused by stress. Fact: Stress does not cause vitiligo. However, stress, feeling low and trauma may make it worse and help spread the white patches by suppressing the immune system. Myth 5: Vitiligo causes physical and mental dysfunction. Fact: Vitiligo is purely a disease of the skin. Therefore, it has no connection with or does not affect or influence any other body parts, organs or intelligence level. Myth 6: Vitiligo is related to other skin disorders such as albinism and skin cancers. Fact: There are clear distinctions between each of these disorders and none of them are related. Individuals with albinism are born with little or no melanin in their skin, whereas vitiligo onset occurs during ones lifetime as the melanocytes become damaged. Also, vitiligo rarely encompasses the entire body like albinism. While skin cancers arise from mutations in DNA and grow uncontrolled, vitiligo occurs through completely different mechanisms. Due to the myths that surround this skin condition, people tend to avoid vililigans, but many celebrities have this disease and they have overcome prejudice to enjoy successful careers. Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan is a sufferer but remains one of the biggest stars in Bollywood. The late King of Pop Michael Jackson was another famous vitiligan, who changed the world of music with his groundbreaking contributions. The writer is a consultant dermatologist at the Al Manar Hospital.