Vitiligo is a skin disorder in which certain areas of the body lose cell pigments and melanocyte is destroyed. Smooth white patches appear on the person’s skin. The hair may also turn white if you have vitiligo in a place that grows hair. Vitiligo usually begins with the hands, forearms, feet, and face and gradually increases to form all over the body over a few months.
The larger patches may continue to widen and spread but in most cases, they stay in the same place. Smaller patches shift and change location from time to time as certain areas lose and gain their pigment. Vitiligo may differ from person to person with some patients having a few depigmented areas, while others having a large amount of their skin losing color.
Vitiligo can occur in about 1% or more of the world population. It can develop in anyone at any age, most commonly seen in people aged from 10 to 30. Vitiligo can affect anyone irrespective of their race and color, however, it is more likely to be visible with people with dark skin color.
Vitiligo can be classified in the following categories:
- Generalized: The most common type of vitiligo, in which patches (macules) appear in various places over the body.
- Segmental: This type is confined to only one part of the body such as the hands or the face.
- Focal: This is a rare type of vitiligo in which patches are contained in smaller areas and do not spread over the body until one or two years.
- Trichome: In this type of vitiligo, there is a lighter patch of skin with lighter pigmentation and then an area of normal colored skin.
- Universal: Another rare type of vitiligo in which nearly 80% of the patient’s body is covered with patches due to lack of skin pigment.
Causes of Vitiligo:
Immune disorder: The patient’s body may not have a strong immune system and fail to develop antibodies that destroy melanocytes.
Genetic Factors: Almost 30% of total vitiligo cases are inherited from family members.
Neurogenic Factors: A toxic substance to melanocytes may be released at nerve ending causing macules to form.
Self-destruction: Defective melanocytes in the body may cause them to destroy themselves.
Can Vitiligo Affect Lips?
A most commonly asked question by people is whether vitiligo affects a person’s lips. Well, the answer to that is yes, vitiligo can affect the lips of a patient and it is a sensitive area to treat. To prevent the lips to get more affected you can use a lip balm that has sunscreen in it. Look for a lip balm that has an SPF of 75. Micropigmentation can also be done near the lip area for treatment, however, there are more natural ways to treat it such as cosmetics for covering up.
Microskin is a unique and one of a kind skin-simulation for various skin disorders including vitiligo. Microskin provides you with the best coverup lotion for vitiligo. It is the best solution for you to cover up your vitiligo macules with ease. With a multi-shade palette, all the products at Microskin are clinically tested with ingredients safe to use on all skin types.
Microskin first provides you with a ‘tester kit’ to test out which shade of the lotion matches your skin tone. Before actually purchasing the product, Microskin allows you to test it out and choose which shade would be perfect according to your skin tone. With the help of the Microskin lotion, you can regain all your lost confidence and once again be the happy and confident person you were. The Microskin makeup lotion for vitiligo is waterproof and feels completely natural and light on your skin.