Psychological impact of Vitiligo

Are you started at or subjected to whispered comments, antagonism, insult or isolation? The skin is the most visible organ of your body which determines to a great extent your appearance and plays a major role in social and sexual communication. Appearance is very important and it greatly influences the way you are perceived by others. Vitiligo is no exception to these observations. Vitiligo is an important skin disease having a major impact on the quality ofyour life. Mostly, society responds to vitiligo patients in much the same way as it does anyone else who appears to be different. As skin colour plays a major role in an individual's perception of health, wealth, and worth, vitiligo causes severe psychosocial distress and social stigmatization.

Vitiligo Causes

The fundamental mechanism which causes vitiligo is loss of melanin. This occurs to the destruction of existing melanocytes and defective formation of new melanocytes. However, the precise reason for white spots on the skin is the loss of melanin, but what causes the destruction of these pigment-forming cells is not completely understood. The exact vitiligo causes still remain indistinct. A number of factors may contribute. These include:

• An autoimmune disorder in which the immune system becomes overactive and destroys the melanocytes
• A genetic oxidative stress imbalance
• A stressful event
• Harm to the skin because of a critical sunburn or cut
• Exposure to some chemicals
• A neural cause
• Heredity
• A virus

Additionally, vitiligo is said to be associated with and affecting people with certain autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, namely:

• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Diabetes mellitus
• Addison’s disease
• Alopecia areata
• Psoriasis
• Pernicious anaemia

Homeopathy Treatment for Vitiligo

It is important to recognize and deal with the psychological components of this disease to improve their quality of life and to obtain a better treatment response. The concern that the disease could spread to involve the whole body was an important reason for seeking treatment. The conventional treatment includes photochemotherapy, micro-pigmentation (tattooing) and skin grafts. The possible side-effects of conventional treatment are severe sunburn and blistering, short-term results, recurrence and scarring. The advantages of homeopathy treatment for vitiligo are no burns, no side-effects, the melanin destruction correction, prevents recurrence and no scarring.

Dr Batra’s have the expertise of treating more than 45,000 skin cases successfully over the past 35 years. The treatment is chieflyintended at stopping or slowing down the further destruction of melanocytes and stimulating re-pigmentation in the existing patches. The homeopathy treatment for vitiligo addresses the underlying conditions of mental stress and depression that are seen in many cases, to help patients be re-integrated into normal life.

Conclusion

Many of you must be feeling distressed and stigmatized by your condition. Your self-image drops considerably and may lead to depression. You often develop a negative feeling about it which is reinforced by your experiences over a number of years. Most patients of vitiligo report feelings of embarrassment which can lead to low self-esteem and social isolation.Above all, vitiligo grazes over the face are awkward and the frustration of resistant grazes over the exposed part of hands and feet can lead to anger and disillusionment. Mainly in teenagers, mood disturbances including irritability and depression are common.

Patients with vitiligo are very sensitive to the way others perceive them and they will often withdraw because they anticipate being rejected. The psychosocial impact on education, marriage, and employment was felt most by young adults. Patients also faced the burden of unsolicited advice and intrusive questioning from family members, peers, friends and well-wishers.Vitiligo has a profound effect on the quality of life of vitiligo patients and thus the patients go to any extent in getting it treated although it is not life-threatening.