What causes white patches on the skin?
Vitiligo is caused by the lack of a pigment called melanin in the skin. Melanin is produced by skin cells called melanocytes, and it gives your skin its colour. In vitiligo, there are not enough working melanocytes to produce enough melanin in your skin. This causes white patches to develop on your skin or hair.
Why does my son have white spots on his skin?
Vitiligo (vih-tih-LY-go) is a loss of skin pigment, or color, that causes white spots or patches on the skin. While vitiligo might make kids self-conscious, this skin condition is not medically dangerous. It’s not a form of skin cancer, it’s not an infection like MRSA, and it’s not contagious.
Why does my son have vitiligo?
Causes of Vitiligo in Children: Since it is an autoimmune disease, the cause of vitiligo is still unknown in children. Even though it is a genetic disease caused by a mutation in genes or genome (set of genes) and is usually said to be ‘running in the family’, it is not necessarily a hereditary disease.
Do white patches spread?
For some people, the white patches do not spread. But often the white patches will spread to other areas of the body. For some people, vitiligo spreads slowly, over many years.
Does vitiligo run in families?
Vitiligo sometimes runs in families, but the inheritance pattern is complex because multiple causative factors are involved. About one-fifth of people with this condition have at least one close relative who is also affected.
Is vitiligo lifelong?
Fast facts on vitiligo There is no cure, and it is usually a lifelong condition. The exact cause is unknown, but it may be due to an autoimmune disorder or a virus. Vitiligo is not contagious. Treatment options may include exposure to UVA or UVB light and depigmentation of the skin in severe cases.
Is coconut oil good for white patches?
While your white spots may be permanent, there are some remedies that have been suggested as good ways of disguising or improving the way the white spots look. Coconut oil applied to the skin is an anti-inflammatory that will encourage the growth of new pigment.
Does vitiligo affect male fertility?
You must note that penile Vitiligo is not contagious. It does not have any effect on your regular sex life or having erections.
Is white patches curable?
There is no cure for vitiligo. The goal of medical treatment is to create a uniform skin tone by either restoring color (repigmentation) or eliminating the remaining color (depigmentation). Common treatments include camouflage therapy, repigmentation therapy, light therapy and surgery.
Can I marry a guy with vitiligo?
A person with vitiligo marrying another person with vitiligo is medically not recommended as there is a slightly higher chance of it passing on to the next generation,” Tawade said. But matches with people not having vitiligo are rare, he added.
Can we marry a person with vitiligo?
Vitiligo does not spread by touch or contact. It does not affect marriage life or physical relationship.
What causes white patches on the face?
Points To Remember About Vitiligo Vitiligo causes white patches, which may or may not spread, to appear on your skin. Doctors don’t know what causes vitiligo, but it may be an autoimmune disease. Treatments may help restore color to the white patches of your skin, but they don’t work for everyone, and sometimes they have unwanted side effects.
Why is my child’s skin discolored?
Skin discoloration can be triggered by a number of causes, including: Eczema. Sometimes a small area of skin becomes irritated or develops mild eczema, which results in a patch of skin that’s lighter in pigment than is the skin around it (pityriasis alba). This is common in children who have allergies, asthma or eczema.
How do I treat a white patch on my son’s skin?
Your son’s doctor may recommend applying moisturizer to the affected skin and avoiding harsh or drying soaps. Your doctor might also prescribe a mild medicated cream, such as hydrocortisone. Superficial yeast infection. Another possible cause of a white patch on skin is a superficial yeast infection (tinea versicolor).
What causes discolored skin patches?
Discolored skin patches have many different causes, including: 1 birthmarks 2 skin pigmentation disorders 3 skin rashes 4 skin infections 5 skin cancers 6 medical conditions More