What causes Vitiligo / Leukoderma | Vitiligo / Leukoderma Treatment & Information

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Vitiligo

People with vitiligo suffer from the skin disease that difficult to cure. Vitiligo or also known as leukoderma is a chronic skin condition that causes loss of pigment, leading to irregular pale spots of skin...

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Vitiligo / Leukoderma Table of Contents
What causes Vitiligo or Leukoderma?
Is Vitiligo / Leukoderma a Genetic Disease?

Vitiligo Symptoms | Leukoderma Symptoms
Vitiligo and Leukoderma Signs
Vitiligo Treatments and Other Great Stuff!

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Vitiligo / Leukoderma Table of Contents

What causes Vitiligo or Leukoderma?
Is Vitiligo / Leukoderma a Genetic Disease?
Vitiligo Symptoms | Leukoderma Symptoms
Vitiligo and Leukoderma Signs
Vitiligo Treatments and Other Great Stuff!
More Vitiligo Treatments and Great Stuff!
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What causes Vitiligo or Leukoderma?

What causes Vitiligo or "Leukoderma" isn't known. Doctors and scientists have theories about what causes the disorder. It may be due to an immune system disorder. Heredity may be a factor because there's an increased incidence of vitiligo / Leukoderma in some families. Some people have reported a single event, such as sunburn or emotional distress, to trigger the condition. However, none of these theories has been proved to be a definite cause of vitiligo or Leukoderma.

Is Vitiligo / Leukoderma a Genetic Disease?

People suggest that vitiligo|leukoderma is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. About a third of patients have at least one relative with vitiligo|leukoderma, and these patients' close relatives have about a 16 times elevated risk of getting vitiligo|leukoderma versus the general population. This risk is a little more in relatives of patients who get vitiligo|leukoderma early and a little less in relatives of patients who get it later.

Vitiligo Symptoms | Leukoderma Symptoms

Vitiligo|Leukoderma symptoms include reduced or absent pigmentation in localized or diffuse areas of the skin. Hair in these areas are normally white or gray, and the skin tends to sunburn a lot easier.

Vitiligo Treatment

Vitiligo and Leukoderma Signs

One-half of population with vitiligo develop spots of de-pigmented skin appearance on people before their 20s. The spots can spread, shrink, or remain the same size. Patches often occur symmetrically across both sides on the body. Sometimes small areas may repigment as they are recolonized by melanocytes. The location of vitiligo affected skin changes over time, with some spots re-pigmenting and others becoming affected.

In some cases, mild trauma to an area of skin seems to cause new spots - for example around the ankles (caused by friction with shoes or sneakers). Vitiligo may also be caused by stress that affects the immune system, leading the body to react and start eliminating skin pigment.
Vitiligo on the scalp may affect the color of the hair (though not always), leaving white spots or streaks. It will similarly affect facial and body hair.