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Vitiligo: The Destruction Of Pigment

Aaron Hutsell
BMS 230 – 1

Vitiligo: The Destruction of Pigment
October 8, 2007
Professor Field

There are many genetic disorders that cause abnormalities in genes and chromosomes. Some result in physical disabilities, mental retardation, and even the dreaded cancer. One condition however can affect a person physically and psychologically. With this condition a person's life is turned upside down slowly but surely. Self-confidence plays a major role in their lives. Eventually that person does not have the urge to be seen outside of their own home. This condition I am referring to is known as Vitiligo.
Also known as leukoderma, Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes loss of pigment. The results are permanent white patches on the epidermis. Vitiligo usually affects people right before their twenties and is considered to be a rare disease; happening to only 1 in 2000 people. On the biology level, melanocytes, the cells that make pigment, are destroyed during the chronic condition of Vitiligo. This condition can vary from person to person. Some people may have small patches while others can practically have their entire bodies covered with Vitiligo. The patches also have the ability to join other white patches and progress more throughout the body. Vitiligo is more noticeable in areas that are exposed to the sun such as the hands and/or face. It is even more noticeable on people with darker skin. Vitiligo also develops white hair that grows on the affected skin.
There is no specific answer to the cause of Vitiligo except for the fact that the melanoctyes stop producing melanin. The immune system can either destroy the melanocytes by mistake or the melanocyte cells destroy themselves for whatever reason. There is however some evidence showing that this disease could be a genetic factor. New studies are getting closer to pinpointing the source of Vitiligo. NIH News presented a national health advisory on April 10, 2007. The health advisory stated, "In a...