Leucoderma - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Leucoderma also known as vitiligo is a distressing skin condition. The word literally means white skin. There is a gradual loss of the pigmentmelanine of the skin layers which results in white flarden. These patches look ugly, especially in persons with dark complexions. The condition causes none organic. This sickness is caused nor by any germinates, nor is attribute it to bad blood. It is considered as for nor contagious nor contagious. As such it is hardly a disease of medical significance but more of a social stigma attached to it because of cosmetic reasons. As patient usually do not have any complaints like pain or itching etc.

Leucoderma have been called more general vitiligo. Leucoderma is a result of the malfunctioning of the immune system. Persons who suffer from Leucoderma experience lose of skin coloration in the form of patches. These can spread to different parts of the body. Our skin contains a substance known as melanin. It is responsible for giving our skin its colour. If areas of the skin do not produce this substance, as is the case of persons suffering from Leucoderma, they will assume the form of white or colourless spots that later develop into patches. These may grow bigger and eventually cover most of one's body. Patches ar e more noticeable on people of darker skin tone. The disease is harmless as it does not cause pain or relevant complications. Those who have the condition may feel, however, the emotional distress of dealing with the physical alterations that the disease provokes.

Causes of Leucoderma

Find common causes and risk factors of Leucoderma :

• Burn injuries.
• Jaundice.
• A defective perspiratory mechanism.
• Sunburn.
• Worms or other parasites in the alimentary canal.
• Physical Illness.
• Thyroid Disease or Addison's Disease.
• Diseases such as Diabetes .
• A defective perspiratory mechanism.
• Heredity is also a well-recognized causative factor.

Signs and Symptoms of Leucoderma

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• Pruritis.
• Increased local sunburns.
• Small white spot, which later develops into patches.
• Premature graying etc.
• Enlarging spots merge into each other and in course of time form a very broad patch.

Treatment for Leucoderma

Treatment may include :

• The affected area is derma-abraded (scrapped superficially) to cause bleeding and then the melanocyte cells mixed with the cultured paste is applied over the bleeding area. The treated area is covered with a special Collagen dressing.
• In this type of treatment a superficial skin sample of 10sq.cms. is removed from the unaffected area to treat 100sq. cm's. of Leucoderma (Vitiligo) patches. From this sample pigment cells are extracted and kept in a special medium.
• Steroids have been used to remove the white patches but they are not too much effective. But if the disease is diagnosed very early, they the steroid creams may bring colour and pigment back to the area within six months. Other method includes the chemical treating the patient to remove all pigment from the skin to present a uniform skin tone.

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