Hyderabad: Generally, when people notice a person having white spots on their skin or any part of their body in a public place, they start distancing themselves from the person. In most countries of the world, people suffering from physical conditions have to face discrimination on a daily basis. The condition where people develop white spots on their body is known as Vitiligo. There is a lack of awareness regarding the condition and its various types among people.
Recently, a social media post by a Malayali actress, Mamta Mohandas, became very popular, in which she revealed that she has been diagnosed with Vitiligo, due to which the colour of her skin is changing. Apart from Mamta, there have been many other very famous personalities around the world who have been victims of this disease and have tried to spread awareness about this disease. Michael Jackson, Amitabh Bachchan, supermodel Winnie Harlow, actress Nafisa Ali and well-known TV presenter Graham Norton are among the few celebrities to have suffered from this disease.
Dr Suraj Bharti, a dermatologist from Delhi, explains that vitiligo is actually a type of skin disease or skin disorder in which small or large white patches appear on the skin in one or more parts of the body. This condition can affect any part of the body. Initially, these white patches start forming on the skin of the patient in the form of small white spots, which start spreading. Although it is a rare condition, in certain types of vitiligo, the colour of the skin of most parts of the body may also change or become white. Due to this problem, sometimes along with the colour of the skin, the colour of the hair in the affected area and the colour of the skin inside the mouth can also change.
Vitiligo is also known as "White leprosy". Many people make the mistake of considering it leprosy. Even today, a large section of people considers it a contagious disease, and avoids contact with people suffering from this problem or their belongings and even sitting near them. But, vitiligo is not contagious.
Dr Bharti explains that usually any type of white spot is called vitiligo in medical terms. He explains that, when due to any disease or other reasons, the cells that create melanin, which gives colour to the skin, start getting destroyed or the production of melanin stops due to any other reason, then the chances of developing vitiligo increases. Many reasons can be responsible for vitiligo, some of which are as follows:
- Having an autoimmune disease, in which our body's immune system starts harming our own body. When this happens, many times the melanocyte cells i.e. melanin-producing cells in the body get damaged or destroyed, due to which white-coloured patches start forming on the skin. It is considered to be one of the most prevalent causes of vitiligo.
- It can also happen due to genetic reasons i.e. due to someone already having this disease in the family. Although this is a very rare cause for developing this disease.
- Due to the side effects of excessive sunlight on the skin several times, exposure to industrial chemicals, any type of skin allergy or skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis or tinea versicolor or due to any disorder in which the melanin cells in the skin are destroyed, the disease can occur.
- Due to lack of nutrition in the body, carelessness in diet, stress and accumulation of harmful toxins in the body, this problem can be seen in the skin.
