Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (cells that make pigment) in the skin are destroyed. As a result white patches appear on the skin. Vitiligo often starts on the hands, feet or face and frequently pigment loss is progressive. Vitiligo is not painful or dangerous and it is not also contagious. This disorder affects both sexes and all races, but it is more noticeable in people with dark skin. Almost half of the people who get vitiligo develop it before they reached the age of 20.

Causes:

• Auto Immune disease. The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown but there are some theories that say that vitiligo is more common in people with certain autoimmune diseases. These autoimmune diseases includes; hyperthyroidism, alopecia areata, pernicious anemia.
• Stress. Vitiligo may also be caused by stress that weakens the immune system leading the body to react and start eliminating skin pigment.
• Hereditary. Vitiligo may be inherited; about 30% of people with vitiligo have a family member with the disease.

Symptoms of Vitiligo: Presence of small white spots which grow little by little. These white patches may grow, shrink or remain constant in size. Patches often occur symmetrically (across both sides of the body). Sometimes small areas may repigment as they are recolonised by melanocytes. Vitiligo may also appear on the scalp and may affect the color of the hair (premature graying of hair) though not always.

Areas where white patches usually first appear:Abdomen, Face, Armpits, Hands, Neck, They may also invade the whole body.

Treatments: Eventhough vitiligo does not cause any serious health problem; it may still affect the person psychologically. Although there is no exact cure for vitiligo, the treatment focuses on targeting the immune system to reverse the destruction. Surgical treatment is also an option; the goal of the treatment is to restore the skin's color by restoring healthy melanocytes to the skin, allowing the skin to regain its normal appearance. Repigmentation occurs slowly as the cells creep back in over months to years.

Exposure to sunlight may also cause the melanocytes to regenerate to allow the pigmentation to come back to its original color.

Ways to mask Vitiligo:

• Use sunless tanning crème / lotion to darken the white patches.
• Apply make up or concealer.