Any white patch found on your skin can be an alarming sign that you need to seek serious medical attention before it gets worse and begins spreading. You may begin to wonder as to why is this happening and all you need to do is to stay calm and visit a dermatologist. White patches are also known as depigmentation of the skin and if you are a person who relies on taking self-medication for the purpose, then you might be complicating your skin condition.
You need to note that advice and proper treatment from a specialist are all that matters for a start. So, make it a point to visit a doctor as soon as you come across any white patch or spot on your skin.
White patches are also known as vitiligo which is a skin disease that causes skin discolouration to an extent to which your skin loses its natural colour. In extreme cases, this skin condition can also affect your hair and the inside part of your mouth. So what causes vitiligo? Well, your skin and hair contain melanin and when melanin is not produced, then you may apparently end up suffering from vitiligo.
This may appear to be more deadly on people who are darker. Moreover, this disease is not contagious, but it can lower your self-confidence in public and also causes tremendous stress. The worst part about people suffering from this skin discolouration is that it makes one feel depressed and this thinking itself causes other mental disorders. The treatment for vitiligo includes restoring colour to the affected skin, but this can in no way prevent continued skin colour loss.
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People suffering from this condition may feel bad about how they carry themselves in public, as they might feel a lot more depressed about their looks. So, now that you know what white patches are, let us understand some important facts that surround this skin condition.
Note: If you spot any sort of white patch on your skin, it is strictly advised that you consult a doctor at the earliest. This will at least prevent the disease from growing and promote repigmentation of discoloured skin.
Researchers say that lack of melanin, a skin pigment, is what causes vitiligo. Melanin, which gives your skin its colour, is produced by skin cells called melanocytes. Lack of functioning melanocytes does not allow your skin from producing enough melanin when you have vitiligo. Your skin or hair may start to develop white patches as a result.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D
Now that we know that white patches can affect anyone, let us understand how this is caused and the root cause of this deadly skin condition. White patches are not treated as a serious skin condition but instead as a serious mental condition because it has high chances of affecting a person mentally and his/her surroundings. Here are some of the various skin conditions that cause white patches.
Vitiligo symptoms include skin or mucous membrane patches that have lost their colour. These could have a whiter or paler appearance than your actual skin tone. Your body begins to develop silver, grey, or white patches of hair. Mild cases present with the occurence of these patches in only a limited section of your body while in moderate to severe cases, the entire skin may be greatly affected. Before depigmentation begins, patients may experience itching.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
White patches can bring down your self-confidence and as a result, you will have to take medical treatment if you spot any white patch on your skin. This patchy skin loss can be seen in the areas that are exposed to sunlight. These areas can be on hands, feet, arms, lips and face. So, how do you know if you are suffering from vitiligo?. Here are some of the symptoms of skin discolouration that you need to keep in mind.
However, there are many ways in which skin discolouration can affect the body. In terms of its appearance, skin discolouration can appear in many parts of your body such as:
The worst part of vitiligo is when this type of skin discolouration begins appearing on your face. Vitiligo on your face can be caused due to the below-listed diseases.
This is a commonly found chronic skin condition wherein white blood cells cause inflammation on your skin. Your skin cells tend to multiply more rapidly and this shows on the surface of your skin. Psoriasis associates with severe itching and dry skin. Some of the most striking factors responsible for psoriasis is insect bites, smoking, vitamin D deficiency and stress. Sometimes even the consumption of alcohol can trigger psoriasis. This disease can leave white patches on your face.
It is a chronic skin condition that causes inflammation on your skin and later results in the formation of patches on your body. This disease can affect children most often and as a result, this can be treatable. Even though it can be cured, its symptoms begin to show throughout their lives. This skin condition is often associated with severe itching and the formation of rashes around the upper layer of your skin. This can appear on your face, back or even arms.
Skin discolouration can also be caused due to a number of nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium that can cause white patches on your face or other parts of your body. Well, though this disease is not contagious, it leaves a big scar on the amount of self-confidence you possess. Also, nutritional deficiencies indicate that you need to follow a healthy and balanced diet.
This type of skin disease is associated with severe itching, dandruff and causes red skin on the face, skin, scalp and chest. This disease is usually caused due to high-level stress among adults. It is also caused by bacteria. Its symptoms can be cured using antifungal creams, medicinal shampoos etc. Also, you must be lucky if you do not get this disease on your face as this can lead to white patches.
Once you have been to a dermatologist, he/she will put you on a medication that is based on your skin condition. However, there are certain home remedies that you must keep in mind when taking medication for your skin condition. Here are some home remedies for treating white patches.
Note: All of the home remedies will benefit you, but you also need to consult a dermatologist regarding the degree of the vitiligo condition and based on which you can ask him/her regarding consuming all of the above.
The first sign that you will have to take seriously is when you spot a white spot on any part of your body. Do not avoid the fact that it might just be a rash. Make it a point to visit a dermatologist as soon as possible, if not you may be inviting trouble. Here are some signs pertaining to vitiligo in which you will have to consult a doctor.
Also, you need to keep in mind that vitiligo has no sort of cure but the treatment is aimed at stopping the spreading of these white patches.
Well, if you have spotted a white patch on your body, then firstly you will have to consult a dermatologist and understand your skin condition. But there are some ways in which you can stop these white patches from spreading to other parts of your body. All you need to do is to follow these below-listed points and you can stay safe from white patches.
Note: The above-listed tips can be followed, provided you are going through a skin treatment for white patches as prescribed by a dermatologist.
Also Read: Goat Milk Soap Benefits: Exploring Its Skin-Boosting Potentials
White patches are not considered as a serious or contagious skin condition, but this can leave a huge mark on your self-confidence and affect the way you act, feel and act in society. Here are some frequently asked questions will shed some more light into the topic of white patches.
White patches, also medically termed as vitiligo cannot be cured but it can be treated and stopped from spreading. This skin condition is a lifelong condition that can affect an individual’s way of thinking in society.
The type of food you consume too has effects on your skin. There are certain kinds of foods that can cause allergies to many. However, there are certain kinds of foods that can worsen white patches and make them spread more. Here are some of those foods that you need to avoid if you are suffering from white patches.
1. Coffee
2. Citrus fruits
3. Yoghurt
4. Seafood
5. Gooseberries; and
6. Alcohol
It is a common myth and nothing more than that. Some people believe that the condition is caused by drinking milk or eating sour food such as lemons and oranges. The fact remains that Vitiligo is an auto-immune disease that has no direct relation to food and it is not caused by eating any specific food. The treatment is never aimed at avoiding any food, it is based on a proven scientific basis.
Eczema, Seborrheic dermatitis and Psoriasis are some of the common causes of dry white patches on the skin.
White patches can be devastating for the person dealing with them. Though science has considered this a normal occurrence, the victim will have to fight the ugly reality of the way he/she looks every day. This skin condition can cause depression and other psychological problems that can hamper a person’s growth and thinking in society. All you need to do is when you have spotted a white patch, you need to consult a dermatologist as soon as possible and you can prevent it from spreading and causing total skin discolouration. Keep in mind, ”Prevention is better than cure.”
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