Vitiligo Children Vitiligo Depigmentation

Vitiligo children

        There are various types of treatment to correct the effects of vitiligo. People with fair skin may be required to avoid sun exposure to avoid tanning. In this way, the normally pigmented skin does not bronze, and the affected areas are less obvious. For those in whom the contrast between normal and affected areas is more marked, the following treatments may be used:

• Makeup
• Depigmentation
• The repigmentation
• Skin grafts

Vitiligo genetic aspects

        What are the risks of transmission to children?
In most cases, vitiligo occurs quite isolated and has not been sent by a parent. However, in nearly 30% of cases vitiligo occurs in a family where another person is also affected. Depigmentation of the phenomenon itself does not seem to be a hereditary disease, but the predisposition to develop vitiligo respond to certain factors of the environment would be transmitted in all forms of vitiligo. This genetic susceptibility account for 50% in the development of disease. Vitiligo is a skin disease characterized by the appearance of white spots and depigmented, increasing surface and number over time. The word "vitiligo" comes from the Latin meaning "white spot".

How many people have vitiligo?

        Vitiligo affects 1 in 50 to 100 of the world population with 10 to 30% of familial forms. This is not strictly speaking an orphan disease. Affecting both men and women, it can occur at any age but more than half of cases begin between 10 and 20 years. It is common in childhood and rare in the elderly. Vitiligo affects all populations, irrespective of skin color. The appearance at psychoaffective or physical trauma is often mentioned. People with autoimmune diseases (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, type 1 diabetes ...) have a higher risk than others of developing the disease.

What causes vitiligo?

        Vitiligo results from a gradual disappearance of cells responsible for pigmentation of the skin (melanocytes). The cause of this disappearance is still unknown. Vitiligo is it contagious?
Treatment with psoralen, also called photochemotherapy with psoralen (PUVA or method), uses the combination of the drug psoralen and exposure to ultraviolet A. For this treatment, the person takes psoralen - either orally or through the application of a cream containing psoralen - before exposing skin to ultraviolet light.

        Psoralen makes the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet rays, this treatment increases the possibility of restoring pigmentation in the affected region. This type of treatment is associated with many risks due to the damaging effects of UVA. These side effects include:

• Sunburn
• Itching
• Hyperpigmentation
• An increased risk of skin cancer

Taking psoralen by mouth may cause additional side effects like:

• An abnormal growth of hair
• Nausea
• Eye damage because of the sensitivity to light

This treatment should be administered under the close supervision of a dermatologist and is recommended for children under 12. Phototherapy with UVB radiation employs narrow-spectrum ultraviolet B radiation to stimulate skin repigmentation of areas affected.