Why did my skin just turn white?

Overview of Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. This happens when melanocytes – skin cells that make pigment – are attacked and destroyed, causing the skin to turn a milky-white color.

What triggers vitiligo?

Vitiligo develops when changes occur in these genes, and the changes happen in the right combination. Inheriting certain genes may increase the risk of something triggering (causing it to happen) vitiligo. Known vitiligo triggers include: A severe sunburn. Injured skin (cut, scrape, burn)

Does vitiligo appear overnight?

A non-life-threatening skin disease, vitiligo is a condition where the loss of pigment leads to smooth white patches on the skin. It often appears on the hands, arms, face, and feet. Skin patches may start to appear rapidly at the onset of the disease but stop for long periods of time before they resume.

What does vitiligo look like when it first starts?

Signs and symptoms of vitiligo include: Patches of skin or mucous membranes that lose color. These can appear white or lighter than your natural skin tone. Patches of hair on your body turn silver, gray or white.

At what age does vitiligo start?

Vitiligo may appear at any age. There is an increased rate of the condition in some families. Vitiligo is associated with other autoimmune diseases: Addison disease (disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones)

Causes of discoloured patches on skin?-Dr. Nischal K

Can you suddenly develop vitiligo?

Anyone can get vitiligo, and it can develop at any age. However, for many people with vitiligo, the white patches begin to appear before age 20, and can start in early childhood.

Is vitiligo caused by stress?

Hormonal response to psychological stress such as cortisol has a role in the development of vitiligo. Physical or environmental stress is involved in the onset and disease progression. Psychological stresses can also contribute to the onset and progression of vitiligo.

What can be mistaken for vitiligo?

Pityriasis versicolor can sometimes be confused with vitiligo, as they both cause the skin to become discoloured in patches. But there are ways to tell the difference: vitiligo often develops symmetrically (on both sides of your body at the same time), while pityriasis versicolor may not.

Can vitiligo be temporary?

The pigment loss can be partial (such as after injury to the skin) or complete (such as from vitiligo). It can be temporary (such as from tinea versicolor) or permanent (such as from albinism).

How do you rule out vitiligo?

How long does vitiligo last?

Most re-pigmentation from these cells happens within six months of surgery. However, dermatologists have seen patients continue to re-pigment for up to 12 months. Surgery may be an option for people of all skin tones and for people who have different types of vitiligo.

Can you stop vitiligo from spreading?

Topical steroids. Topical steroids come as a cream or ointment you apply to your skin. They can sometimes stop the spread of the white patches and may restore some of your original skin colour.

Is vitiligo reversible?

No drug can stop the process of vitiligo — the loss of pigment cells (melanocytes). But some drugs, used alone, in combination or with light therapy, can help restore some color. Drugs that control inflammation. Applying a corticosteroid cream to affected skin might return color.

Which lack of vitamin causes vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder caused by the destruction of functional melanocytes. Vitamin D is an essential hormone synthesized in the skin and is responsible for skin pigmentation. Low levels of vitamin D have been observed in vitiligo patients and in patients with other autoimmune diseases.

Which food deficiency causes vitiligo?

Based on our findings, patients with vitiligo have a high incidence of vitamin D deficiency, and this deficiency is more common among females than males.

How quickly does vitiligo spread?

It spreads very quickly, faster than the other forms, but only for about 6 months (sometimes up to a year).

What is pre vitiligo?

Pre-vitiligo patches appear as pale yellow patches before they turn into white vitiligo patches. It is beneficial if one notices them and treats this problem at an early stage and not let it convert to vitiligo. Mostly they start affecting the areas like face, knees, elbows, back of the hand, etc.

What happens if vitiligo is left untreated?

If vitiligo is not treated, it may spread extensively to involve various skin areas. Rarely, some patches may go away or decrease in size. Although vitiligo is neither dangerous nor causes symptoms, such as pain or itch, the sufferers may be upset and stressed because of the way their skin appears.

Should I worry about vitiligo?

Vitiligo does not pose a serious threat to one's health, but it can result in physical complications, such as eye issues, hearing problems, and sunburn. People with vitiligo also tend to be more likely to have another autoimmune disease (like thyroid disorders and some types of anemia).

Which vitamin deficiency causes white spots on skin?

A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can present itself as white spots or patches on your skin. Since vitamin B-12 is also essential for the production of hemoglobin in red blood cells, you may also be at risk for pernicious anemia, a condition that causes pale skin, fever, and weight loss.

How do you know if it's not vitiligo?

If the spots are not truly white, but hypopigmented and not depigmented (they don't enhance by Wood's lamp), then they are NOT vitiligo and could be any number of different diseases and conditions.

Does lack of sleep cause vitiligo?

Moreover, physiological disorders show a higher prevalence in vitiligo patients compared with normal population, including depression, stress, and insomnia. In the meantime, various autoimmune diseases are associated with sleep disorders. Patients with sleep disorders may suffer the potential risk for vitiligo.

Is vitiligo caused by anxiety?

In conclusion, the findings from this study indicate that vitiligo patients have high levels of perceived stress. In patients predisposed to vitiligo, metabolic and psychological stress might influence the onset and progression of vitiligo.

Does vitiligo spread naturally?

The good news is that the skin condition isn't life-threatening, but it can be a difficult skin disorder to live with. There are a variety of vitiligo treatments available, including topical creams and injections. However, in extreme cases, vitiligo can spread to other parts of the body if not treated properly.

Can you leave vitiligo untreated?

Vitiligo — like many skin conditions — can be challenging to live with, mainly because of the way the skin looks. However, people with vitiligo are usually in good health and live normal lives. If it is not associated with symptoms that cause physical discomfort or complications, the condition may be left untreated.