Vitiligo FAQs
Q. What is vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder in which the melanocytes lose their ability to produce pigment which results in white patches on the skin.
Q. What is white spot disease?
White spot disease is the German name for vitiligo.
Q. Who is affected by Vitiligo?
About one to two percent of the world suffers from Vitiligo irrespective of age, sex, and race but most of the people develop this disease before the age of forty.
Q. What are the symptoms of vitiligo?
White patches on skin are the main symptoms of vitiligo. These patches are more common in sun exposed areas like face, lips, hands, arms and feet.
Q. Where does the name of vitiligo?
The word ‘Vitiligo’ comes from the Latin language. Aulo Cornelius Celso, a Latin doctor coined this term in the beginning of the Christian era.
The word ‘Vitiligo’ is derived from the word ‘Vitium’ which means a blemish.
Q. When was Vitiligo discovered?
Vitiligo has been known for thousands of years and has been described in the papyrus of Ebers, in classical Greece.
Q. How was vitiligo diagnosed in earlier times?
The analysis and tracking of the disease vitiligo were extremely difficult in the past, because there were many diseases which had common symptoms.
Q. What is the prognosis of Vitiligo?
The course of vitiligo is unpredictable but it depends on the type of vitiligo. In some cases vitiligo remains stable for several years whereas in others it starts rapid progression.
Q. Can Vitiligo be confused with other diseases?
There are many other diseases which have similar symptoms of vitiligo. These diseases are Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, Pityriasis Alba, White scars and hypopigmentation.
Q. Is vitiligo contagious?
Vitiligo is not contagious and therefore can not be transmitted by contact of any form.
Q. Is Vitiligo curable?
No, vitiligo is not curable. The treatments that are available for vitiligo either help in repigmentation or complete depigmentation to even out complexion.
Q. What are melanocytes?
Melanocytes are the cells of the skin that give color to the skin.