How is vitiligo diagnosed at home?

There are no at-home tests available to diagnose vitiligo. However, you can do a general self-check of your skin and look for patchy or widespread loss of pigmentation (the coloring of your skin, hair, and eyes).

What causes vitiligo later in life?

The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown, although most experts believe that it is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys certain cells within the body. Most people who have vitiligo will develop the condition prior to age 40; about half develop it before age 20.

What virus can cause vitiligo?

Viruses such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein Barr virus were detected in the epidermis of vitiligo patients [16,24]. The Herpes Zoster Virus was found in patients affected with segmental vitiligo [20]. The vitiligo was found to be associated with the Herpes Simplex Labialis Virus as well [22].

Can vitiligo be caused by stress?

Emotionally stressful events may trigger the development of vitiligo, potentially due to hormonal changes that occur when a person experiences stress. As in other autoimmune diseases, emotional stress can worsen vitiligo and cause it to become more severe.

What food causes vitiligo?

Here are some of the top problem foods that some people with vitiligo cite:

• alcohol.
• blueberries.
• citrus.
• coffee.
• curds.
• fish.
• fruit juice.
• gooseberries.

How to identify vitiligo and what are the causes?

The main cause of this skin disorder is the death of melanin cells i.e. cells that are the foundation of skin pigment. Initially, vitiligo can appear as a patch of white skin that is light in color than the rest. This patch will dramatically become completely white as well as skin pigment starts to fade.

What is the prognosis of vitiligo?

Patients with vitiligo often experience stigmatization, isolation, and low self-esteem [5-8]. Although there is no cure for the disease, the available treatments may halt the progression of the disease and induce varying degrees of repigmentation with acceptable cosmetic results in many cases.

What are the early signs of vitiligo?

Patchy loss of skin color,which usually first appears on the hands,face,and areas around body openings and the genitals

Why is vitiligo considered an autoimmune disease?

Vitiligo is the result of the skin’s melanocytes being destroyed. Melanocytes are cells within the skin that produce melanin, which is responsible for giving the skin its color. Vitiligo is generally thought to be an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly destroys its own melanocytes.