| Leucoderma: Causes and Treatment
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Leucoderma: Causes and Treatment
Lecoderma is a very embarrassing and distressing skin disorder. In general term, it is called as vitiligo. Vitiligo means white skin. This skin disorder is characterized by presence of white patches on skin. It happens because of loss of skin pigment melanin from skin layer, which takes place gradually.
Cosmetically, these patches give an ugly sight, especially on dark skin. Person’s health does not suffer due to these patches. There is no pain or any complication. Every white patch should not be taken as leucoderma. There are many reasons of formation of temporary or permanent white patches on the skin. It may be due to acute and chronic gastric problem, disturbed hepatic functions like jaundice, Typhoid, Parasites or worms in alimentary canal, Burn injuries and defective perspiratory activity. Some people confuse leucoderma even with leprosy.
Symptoms of leucoderma:
Leucoderma always begins with very tiny white spot on the skin and later it takes the shape of patches. In the beginning, these patches have pale tone which later turns into white due to complete loss of pigment. As the time passes these spots enlarge and merge into each other to make larger patches. In some cases larger area of skin of body is covered by these patches.
Cause of Leucoderma:
Our skin gets its colour due to pigment called melanin which is dark pigment. The main function of pigment is to protect skin from harmful rays of sun. In case of leucoderma, a part of skin stops the production of melanin or looses already present melanin. These areas, having no melanin, on skin appear as white. This loss of melanin spread to scalp too and hair too become colorless.
Leucoderma is a form of auto-immune disorder. An autoimmune disorder is one which occurs due to malfunction of immune system. Though leucoderma is a autoimmune disease whose main cause is still not known but there are certain conditions which precipitate or aggravate the condition of leucoderma. These reasons may be hereditary factors, emotional stress, burn injuries or presence of worms in intestine. There are some other diseases like Addison’s disease, diabetes mellitus, pernicious anemia or hyperthyroidism, which contribute to aggravate leucoderma. But it is not necessary that having these diseases will lead to leucoderma.
Who can develop Leucoderma?
Presence of leucoderma is not limited to any race, religion, sex, group or region. It is prevalent world over and anybody can suffer from this disorder. Around one percent of world population is suffering from leucoderma. It can affect any age group. Any part of the body can get affected by leucodrema. It is observed that 95 percent of people affected by leucoderma, develop it before the age of 40. There is family history for about 30 percent of patients.
Treatment of Leucoderma
The positive information about leucoderma is that it can be cured. It treatment includes oral medicines, topical medicines, photosensitivity therapy, radiation therapy, depigmentation therapy with surgery and bleaches. Each treatment has its level of effectiveness.
Allopathic Medication: Psoralen or Melanocyl are the common medicines used topically followed by exposure to sunrays. Oral antioxidants are also given in some cases. Another method is used in which skin is exposed to ultra violet rays.
Homeopathy: Homeopathy offers effective treatment for leucoderma. There is constitutional treatment to the disease so that root cause can be eliminated. It helps buildup immunity and hence restoring the pigment on the skin.
Ayurvedic treatment: Babchi oil is applied over the depigmented areas. Person is advised to use copper utensils. Cleansing of bowels is recommended every two months by fasting on juice for a week, followed by take light meals having boiled vegetables and curd. Person should perform yoga exercises.
Surgical Methods include grafting of skin. If patch is small, it can be covered by applying colored dyes, silver nitrate.
Some Tips: Besides taking treatment for leucoderma, person should do the following:
1 Daily exposure of affected areas to early morning sunlight, for around 20 minutes.
2 Stop using cosmetic applications like creams, powders, makeup etc.
3 For bathing, use gentle soaps
4 Include many citrus fruits, fish, lobsters, tarmarind, lentils, green leafy vegetables, cereals in your daily diet. You diet should containing high iron content. Do not take stress and follow positive attitude.
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