Does Vitiligo Spread Constantly?
It is unnecessary to clarify whether vitiligo will spread. For some individuals, the white patches do not spread. However, occasionally the white patches will spread to other areas of the body. In the majority of cases, vitiligo progressed steadily over many years. However, for others, the proliferation appears rapid. The majority of individuals have reported experiencing more acne following emotional or physical tension. Vitiligo is a condition in which white patches appear on various areas of the body, including the mouth, eyes, and hair. This complication occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for pigment production, are wholly destroyed.
The condition is photosensitive (the affected area is more sensitive to sunlight than other regions of the body). However, regions are more noticeable on individuals with dark skin. One of the most frequently asked queries by patients is whether or not the patches will spread. There is no exact answer to such questions. Those who develop such conditions develop white or pale patches on their epidermis. In some instances, the white patch issue remains stable (does not spread) for a number of years or months. Consequently, the patches sometimes spread rapidly to other body regions as well. Initially, these regions are quite small, but after some time, they begin to expand and change shape. As a result, it may affect a person physically and emotionally.
Inaccurately, some patients also believe that such a problem is contagious. As such a condition is an autoimmune disease (in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells), it cannot be transmitted by physical contact and is also resistant to environmental and other external factors. Vitiligo is an acquired disease of depigmentation characterized by white patches and macules on various parts of the body, resulting from the selective destruction of melanocytes. This predicament affects all of the world’s races. Even though it is not an agonizing condition, cosmetic disfigurement causes a great deal of discoloration.
This condition affects the quality of life of those afflicted with the disease, and patients may experience reduced self-esteem and emotional distress. They are sometimes subjected to social neglect, which causes them to withdraw from society. Age-related misconceptions and insufficient knowledge are the primary causes of such unwarranted fear associated with this condition. There is a misconception that this disorder can be transmitted through physical contact. Vitiligo is therefore not contagious and does not spread through contact. However, another fallacy involves dietary practices. For instance, individuals who enjoy fish, acidic food, white food, etc. consider them to be a risk factor for vitiligo.
The precise cause of vitiligo is still unknown. Numerous hypotheses involving neural, genetic, biochemical, antioxidant deficiency theory, autoimmune, and autocytotoxic phenomena have been proposed. Various autoimmune diseases, including alopecia areata, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorder, and pernicious anemia, have been associated with vitiligo.