Causes of Vitiligo & Leucoderma ( What is the difference between vitiligo & Leucoderma ? )

What is the cause of vitiligo? This is the most common and most asked question to us as we are the Vitiligo specialists.   Prime cause of vitiligo could be auto immunity. The state of autoimmunity occurs due to bad or odd food combinations like eating milk and non-vegetarian items together and many more. There are lot of odd food examples available through primitive sayings also.    Vitiligo & Leucoderma can occur either due to a disturbance in the formation of melanin or in its loss from the skin. The formed white spot gradually enlarges and forms a larger patch. In some cases these patches remain stagnant through whole life. But in most cases these spread spontaneously and merge to each other covering most of the skin area. Alternately, in many cases only one patch enlarge spontaneously covering a larger skin area.   Improper hygiene is considered to be the most acceptable known reason for Autoimmunity according to Ayurveda. People suffering from vitiligo in ages of 22 - 40 years mostly but lot of small kids can be seen having vitiligo mostly due to the their dietary habits. Daily intake of junk food as main food in kids can lead to the condition of autoimmunity, which may push them into a stage of vitiligo. Lot of other auto immune disorders like diabetes, hypo or hyper thyroidism, alopecia etc. can also occur to such kids.    Vitiligo sometimes has hereditary reasons also. On the other hand hereditary factor is responsible only 10 to 20% of the reason. Many cases can be seen without any family history of vitiligo and there are families with vitiligo in which next generation have not been affected by this.   New cases of vitiligo has been seen with onset due to harsh antibiotic use, pesticide treated vegetable intake, jaundice or repeated typhoid history. The mentioned reason of vitiligo basically hampers the function of pigment producing cells - melanocytes. Complete loss of melanocytes can also be seen in vitiligo lesions. Moreover dormancy of melanocyte is more common in vitiligo.    On the other hand Leucoderma has different cause of onset. The difference in vitiligo and Leucoderma is only their onset. Vitiligo is self-generated while Leucoderma can occur after a cut, a burn or after allergy from some chemical. So basically cause of Leucoderma can be said accidental. Leucoderma cure is possible faster than vitiligo cure.   After formation of the patch the line of treatment of Leucoderma is same as treatment of vitiligo. Vitiligo and leucoderma are popularly known as white patches. Vitiligo and Leucoderma both are Latin words which mean defective blemishes on skin and white skin respectively.   Ayurveda is the most ancient system of medicine. According to Ayurveda Vitiligo & Leucoderma are termed ‘Kilas’. It is further known as ‘Darun’, ‘Charun’ and ‘Switr’ as this is tridosaj. It is a skin disorder mainly due to inappropriate diet combination intake regularly and formed due to disturbance of tridosas namely ‘Vaat’, ‘Pitta’ and ‘Kapha’. After aggravation it moves & affects to rakta, mans and med dhatus.   According to Ayurvedic texts Vitiligo is developed due to these regimens:           •   Intake of mutually contradictory food (Virudh aahar sevan) and drinks which are liquid, unctuous and heavy;       •   Suppression of natural urges;        •   Performance of physical exercise in excessive heat and after taking very heavy meals;       •   Regular stress or sudden trauma;

Melanocytes cells & Melanin pigment production

PHYSIOLOGY  OF MELANIN  In human skin melanin is produced from the amino-acid named tyrosin by the action of copper-containing enzyme tyrosinase. This enzyme is present in the melanocytes, which are located in the basal cell layer and transfer their pigment to the keratinising cells of the epidermis by means of their dendrite processes. In vitiligo this pigment is lost along with the keratinised cell during exfoliation of skin.  Vitiligo & Leucoderma can occur either due to a disturbance in the formation of melanin or in its loss from the skin. The formed white spot gradually enlarges and forms a larger patch. In some cases these patches remain stagnant through whole life. But in most cases these spread spontaneously and merge to each other covering most of the skin area. Alternately, in many cases only one patch enlarge spontaneously covering a larger skin area.