Need to create awareness on vitiligo

Vitiligo, a skin condition in which milky white patches develop on the skin, has a significant social and psychological impact on people.

About 2% of the population is affected by this condition, which does not have any harmful effect and is noncommunicable in nature. Despite this, people living with vitiligo often have to deal with widespread discrimination in our country. They are treated as social outcasts, considered unfit for marriage and subject to distasteful mockery and comments.

Vitiligo most often affects face, elbows, knees, hands, feet and lips and is more noticeable in people with darker skin tones.

Those with this condition are most commonly found to be victims of low self-esteem, anxiety, embarrassment, anger and sometimes serious depression. People with vitiligo or even their relatives sometimes are considered unfit for marriage in our country. On the World Vitiligo Day on June 25, people need to be made aware that this is simply a skin condition which can be treated and does not spread through physical contact. There is a need to urge people to change their attitude towards those affected by this condition and obliterate the social stigma associated with it.

It is important to understand that not all white patches are signs of vitiligo. Fungal infections, healed eczemas, sun allergies and guttate hypomelanosis are common conditions which can mimic early vitiligo. Consult a dermatologist if you see white-colored patches on the body, so as to verify the diagnosis and allay possible fears. Vitiligo does not influence the physical and mental abilities in a person and cannot be transmitted through touch, sharing personal items, saliva or intercourse.

PHOTO: HTCS