#16 VITILIGO AWARENESS - WORLD VITILIGO DAY : JUNE 25!

Do you know why June 25th is Celebrated as world VITILIGO DAY?

Do you know what VITILIGO is all about?

Do you know how important is the SUNSCREEN in the VITIILIGO treatment?

Read till the end to know the SELF CARE TIPS in the VITILIGO Management And also some common FAQ’s

தமிழில் படிக்க, இதனை அழுத்தவும்!

Welcome to the most important Topic of this Month - “VITILIGO AWARENESS. This post is meant to spread awareness about VITILIGO

Every year JUNE 25th is CELEBRATED as WORLD VITILIGO Day

DO YOU KNOW WHY JUNE 25th IS CELEBRATED AS WORLD VITILIGO DAY?

The first World Vitiligo Day (also defined as “Vitiligo Awareness Day” or “Vitiligo Purple Fun day”, from the colour chosen as Vitiligo Awareness Color) was observed on June 25, 2011. The choice of June 25 as World Vitiligo Day is a memorial to musical artist Michael Jackson, who suffered from vitiligo from the early 1980s until his death, which occurred on June 25, 2009.

WHAT IS VITILIGO?

Vitiligo means loss of Natural colour of skin. Patches of lighter skin appear. Some people develop a few patches. Others lose much more skin colour.

Vitiligo is not contagious. It is not life-threatening. But vitiligo can be life-altering. Some people develop low self-esteem. They may no longer want to hang out with friends. They can develop serious depression.

Most people have vitiligo for life, so it’s important to develop coping strategies.

WHO GETS VITILIGO?

Vitiligo affects 0.5–1% of the population, and occurs in all races. It may be more common in India than elsewhere, with reports of up to 8.8% of the population affected. In 50% of sufferers, pigment loss begins before the age of 20, and in about 80% it starts before the age of 30 years. In 20%, other family members also have vitiligo. Males and females are equally affected.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF VITILIGO?

Vitiligo is ASYMPTOMATIC (usually not itchy or sore), but some people experience some irritation of the skin before a new vitiligo patch appears.

Sunlight may cause SUNBURN to EXPOSED AREAS. Some people may feel embarrassed by this as it will stand out more obviously when the SURROUNDING SKIN IS TANNED or in naturally dark-skinned individuals.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON SITES OF VITILIGO?

Common sites are exposed areas (face, neck, eyelids, nostrils, fingertips and toes), body folds (armpits, groin), nipples, navel, lips and genitalia.

DO I HAVE TO WORRY IF I HAVE VITILIGO?

Even though most people with vitiligo are in good general health, they face a higher risk of having autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease (in 20% of patients over 20 years with vitiligo), pernicious anaemia (B12 deficiency), Addison disease (adrenal gland disease), systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and alopecia areata (round patches of hair loss).

SELF CARE TIPS FOR MANAGING VITILIGO:

1. Protect your skin from the sun

a) Use SUNSCREEN every day. You want to apply sunscreen to all skin that clothing will not cover. To get the protection you need, apply the sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside

How to choose a sunscreen for a vitiligo patient?

i) UVA/UVB protection (label may say “broad spectrum”)

ii) SPF of 30 or higher

iii) Water resistance

b) Clothing also has an SPF. When it comes to SPF, not all clothing is equal. A long-sleeve denim shirt gives you an SPF of about 1,700. T-shirts offer significantly less protection. A white t-shirt tends to give you SPF 7; whereas, a green t-shirt may give you SPF 10.

C) Seek shade. Avoid going outdoors between 11:00 AM AND 4 PM

2. Do not get a tattoo.

Getting a tattoo can cause something called the Koebner phenomenon. What this means is when you wound your skin, which getting a tattoo does, a new patch of vitiligo can appear about 10 to 14 days later.

3. Learn about vitiligo

It helps to know about treatment options so that you know what is possible. Learning more about vitiligo can help you decide what treatment, if any, feels right for you. You may want to treat, camouflage, or just let the vitiligo be. Only you can decide what’s right for you.

4. Connect with others who have vitiligo

The emotional aspects of having vitiligo are often overlooked, but they are real. If a child has vitiligo, other children may tease and bully. People can stare. Studies conclude that many people who have vitiligo have a decreased quality of life.

Connecting with others who have vitiligo can help.

FAQ:

Q: IS Vitiligo Hereditary?

A: Yes! Vitiligo has a genetic basis. However, If you have vitiligo, it does not necessarily follow that your children will develop it.

Q: Is Vitiligo Contagious? / Does it spread to Others by Touching or Sharing Things?

A: NEVER. Please Please DON’T DISCRIMINATE a VITILIGO Patient!

Q: Whether Vitiligo is a Life-threatening Device?

A: No

Q: Doctor! I have Vitiligo. It is small and at a site not exposed to others. I have decided to live with it and not to get it treated. IS IT STILL NECESSARY TO VISIT A DERMATOLOGIST?

A: You SHOULD visit a DERMATOLOGIST. 2 Reasons: First, to confirm it is VITILIGO; Second AND most Important Vitiligo is a medical condition, not just a cosmetic concern. So it is important to RULE OUT other associated medical conditions

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