what to do with white spots on the body

Pale spots on the skin of various sizes that can appear on any part of the body are most often manifestations of vitiligo.

“UP. Life” used sources Cleveland Clinic, NHS and MSD MANUALto tell:

What does vitiligo look like?

Vitiligo is a condition in which pale spots appear on the skin.

It can develop at any age. However, in many people with vitiligo, white spots begin to appear before the age of 20, although they can appear in early childhood.

To plots, skin which are most often affected by vitiligobelong to:

• mouth;
• face and neck;
• fingers and wrists;
• elbows and knees;
• armpits and groin;
• genitalia

Sometimes vitiligo can develop on the scalp in the area of ​​hair follicles. This can cause the hair in the affected area to turn white or gray.

Vitiligo often starts with a pale patch of skin that gradually turns completely white. The center of the area can be completely white, and around it – skin pale shade.

If there are blood vessels under the skin, the spot may not be white, but slightly pink. The edges of the spot can be even or uneven, sometimes they are brown (with hyperpigmentation).

Vitiligo does not cause discomfort or dryness on the skin, but sometimes the spots may itch.

The disease proceeds in different ways. Some people have only a few small pale spots, while others have large white spots that coalesce. Vitiligo is most noticeable in people with dark skin.

Stains usually do not disappear and remain forever. They are painless, but you can get unpleasant sunburns on light areas of the skin affected by vitiligo.

It is very important for people with vitiligo to protect themselves from the sun: use sunscreenavoiding being outside during the sunniest hours and wearing protective clothing

Why does vitiligo appear

Vitiligo is caused lack of skin pigment melanin, which is produced by cells melanocytes.

That is, it is impossible to get infected with vitiligo by contact (when shaking hands, for example), because this condition is not an infectious disease.

The reason such changes in the amount of melanin can be:

• autoimmune diseases;

At the same time, the immune system perceives healthy skin cells (melanocytes) as foreign. This causes it to overreact and produce antibodies – compounds that will try to destroy the melanocytes.

• genetic factors;

A change in the body’s DNA can affect the functioning of melanocytes. There are more than 30 genes that can increase the risk of developing vitiligo.

About 30% of vitiligo cases are genetic. This means that the condition is hereditary and vitiligo can be inherited.

The amount of pigment produced by melanocytes can change under the influence of frequent emotional stress on the body.

• environmental factors.

Factors such as ultraviolet radiation and exposure to toxic chemicals can affect the functioning of melanocytes.

What are the types of vitiligo?

There are such types of vitiligo:

• non-segmental vitiligo;

This is the most common type of vitiligo.

In non-segmental vitiligo (also called bilateral) symptoms often appear on both sides of the body in the form of symmetrical white spots.

Symmetrical spots can appear on:

• palms and feet;
• the skin around the eyes;
• knees and elbows.

• segmental vitiligo;

In segmental vitiligo (also known as unilateral vitiligo), the white patches affect a certain area of ​​the body on only one side.

Segmental vitiligo is less common than non-segmental vitiligo. Most often it occurs in children.

• universal vitiligo.

This is a rare type of vitiligo that can affect the entire body.

Vitiligo can develop at any age.

Does vitiligo cause complications

Mostly, vitiligo does not harm a person’s health. However, sometimes it can be accompanied by the following complications:

• skin sensitivity;

Vitiligo spots do not contain melanocytes, so these areas of the skin are more sensitive to sunlight. This can lead to a quick burn instead of a tan.

• eye abnormalities;

People with vitiligo may have some abnormalities of the retina (the inner layer of the eye that contains light-sensitive cells). In some cases, inflammation of the retina may develop, but vision is usually not affected.

• emotional problems

People with vitiligo may feel ashamed of how their skin looks skin. This can cause anxiety, depressionas well as the desire to isolate or avoid social contacts.

The white patches of vitiligo are usually permanent and do not require treatment.

Is it necessary and how to treat vitiligo

If vitiligo is severe or affects your mental health, certain treatments may be worth considering.

The white patches of vitiligo are usually permanent and do not require treatment. There are no special medicines for vitiligo. There are certain ways that can reduce the appearance of vitiligo:

• if the spots are relatively small, you can apply a masking cream on them;
• steroid creams can also be applied to the skin to restore pigment, but long-term use can lead to stretch marks and thinning of the skin;
• phototherapy (light treatment) can be helpful in fighting spots.

Although these methods can help restore skin color, the effect is usually short-lived. Treatment cannot stop the spread of the disease.

All areas of skin with vitiligo are at risk of severe sunburn and should be protected from the sun by clothing and sunscreen.