LEUCODERMA CAUSES

Leucoderma, also called vitiligo, is an immune disorder that causes loss of skin color and makes the skin whitening.  This condition of skin whitening starts with a white patch usually at any sun-exposed area and slowly covers the entire body. It is affecting almost 2% of the world’s population. The color change happens at a rapid pace for 6 months to a year and then stops. In this phase, sometimes the entire body is not covered with the white patches and then the body remains the same for the rest of the life. With a major change in appearance, leucoderma causes low self-esteem in the patients they start looking different from a normal person.

SCIENCE BEHIND LEUCODERMA-

The pigment-forming cells called melanocytes produce melanin which is responsible for skin pigmentation. The immune system sometimes does not work properly and starts attacking some parts of the body. In this process, the immune system attacks melanocytes and destroys melanin as well. As melanin is responsible for pigmentation of the skin, depigmentation starts occurring on the skin. Leucoderma triggers premature greying of hairs on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, or any other part of the body.

Although the actual leucoderma causes are not proven yet, different experts tell different causes of leucoderma. Some say leucoderma triggers due to excessive sun exposure or severe sunburn, while others believe gene structure is responsible for it. But, no matter what causes leucoderma, It is a permanent disorder that can not be reversed, so keeping it away is the best one can do.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO PREVENT LEUCODERMA-

Many scientific studies have been performed on leucoderma and it resulted in the fact that there is no permanent cure to it. Although the symptoms can be reduced and the problems related to leucoderma can be treated up to an extent, signs of skin depigmentation can not be reversed. But with correct precautionary measures, one can reduce the chances of getting leucoderma. As leucoderma is an immune system disorder, the best way to prevent it is to incorporate habits that boost the immune system.  Here is a list of precautions that can be performed to dodge the chances-

• Including natural food in the diet- Natural food-rich diet is the best gift to be given to the body. These foods are not processed and are easy to digest and contain all the necessary nutrients that are essential for a healthy body. Including natural fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, seeds, and nuts, etc will keep any kind of disorder away. It will also improve the immune system.

• Avoid Junk Food- Avoiding junk food is another way to improve the immune system. Junk food is processed and often does not contain any nutritional value. Plus, it is also heavy on the digestive system. Including junk food in a regular diet increases the chances of many disorders.

• Avoid taking Hot and Cold Edibles simultaneously- Many studies have shown, intaking hot and cold food simultaneously can trigger many problems including leucoderma. It gives a shock to the entire system and can become a cause of several disorders.

• Antibiotics- Antibiotics are good for the body but to a limit. Taking too many antibiotics can result in not destroying the unwanted bacterias as the bacterias adapt themselves for antibiotics. The bacterias become stronger and start attacking the immune system.

• Changing Temperature Swiftly- Changing the temperature from hot to cold and vice versa rapidly and continuously can shock the immune system. It can then lead to immune disorder and leucoderma.

• Swimming- Swimming in the water that is extremely opposite of the weather can also give a shock to the immune system resulting in leucoderma. Avoid swimming in hot water in cold weather and vice versa for a long period.

• Avoid Chronic Stress- Stress can cause many troubles to physical health. Chronic stress that is continued for a longer period can weaken the immunity and hence leucoderma can get triggered.

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CONCLUSION

Leucoderma can affect a person in many ways. It can lead to many other issues and disorders. Other than reducing the symptoms, there is no way to cope with leucoderma. Once affected, the person has to live with it for their entire life. The unpleasant appearance can also cause low self-esteem and fear of not being socially accepted is also associated with it which can affect the person’s mental health severely. It is best to incorporate such lifestyle habits that can keep leucoderma away. It is very important to understand that someone dealing with leucoderma must be dealing with acceptance issues, so being kind to them and accepting them regardless of their uncommon appearance should be executed. Keep in mind that it is non-contagious, so including a person with leucoderma in your circle will not affect you at all.