Leucoderma - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment of Vitiligo

Definition

Leucoderma is also known as vitiligo. It is a distressing skin condition. The word Leucoderma means the white skin. There is a gradual loss of the pigment melanin from the skin layers which results in white patches. The white patches on the skin look ugly. Especially in those persons who has dark skin or complexion. However, this condition does not cause any organic harm. Leucoderma is a fairly common disorder and it affects one per cent or more of the world’s population. The incidence is a little higher in India. The disorder can occur at any age in either sex in normal skin. It is, however, more common in women than men. The most affected areas are the hands, the neck, the back and the wrist in that order.  It is not an infectious disease. This can occur because of stress and emotional disturbances. This disease should be cured as soon as it is detected, but it can not be cured hundred percent.

Causes

1. The exact causative factor is not known.
2. The main causes of leucoderma are said to be excessive mental worry, chronic or acute gastric disorders.
3. Heredity is also a well-recognized causative factor. Most patients with leucoderma have one of the family members suffering from one or more of the following diseases: Vitiligo, hypothyroid, diabetes, alopecia areata, cancer or any other auto-immune disease.
4. It is neither infectious nor contagious. It cannot be transmitted from one person to another by physical contact.
5. Often the hormone secreting glands are involved in this disorder.
6. Thyroid Disease or Addison's disease may also the cause of the disease.

Symptoms

1. In this disease the problem starts with white pale spots. After sometime these white spots turns into bigger patches. The patches are pale in the starting but they turn whiter and whiter as the time passes. It happens due to loss of pigment from the skin.
2. Alopecia areata or loss of hair may also occur.
3. Premature graying of the hairs.
4. There may be Lichen sclerosus which is symptom of leucoderma.
5. Spots may present with a single or several spots on limbs or abdomen or back and then spreading to other parts of the body.

Treatment

1. There is no cure for leucoderma, but there are several treatments, including dyes or psoralens used in combination with Ultraviolet a light treatment.
2. Take medicines regularly in the early days itself, so that complete cure can be achieved
3. Avoid working or roaming in the sun.
4. Avoid fast foods, citrus fruits, coffee, tea, cold drinks, alcohol, beer, non-veg, egg, etc., since it can cause spread of the disease.
5. Skin grafting, melanocyte transplantations and tattooing. All these procedures are costly and painful.
6. A paste made from the seeds of the radish is valuable in treating leucoderma. About thirty-five grams of these seeds should be powdered in two teaspoons of vinegar and applied on the white patches.