TLDR Vitiligo causes white skin patches and is linked to autoimmune issues.
Vitiligo, affecting at least 1% of the global population, was a significant sociopsychological issue, particularly in darker-skinned individuals. The exact cause was unclear, but hypotheses included genetic, autoimmune, neurogenic, and melanocyte self-destruction theories, with the autoimmune hypothesis supported by associations with other autoimmune conditions. Vitiligo presented as milky-white macules, often around body orifices and trauma areas, with an unpredictable course and usually insufficient spontaneous repigmentation. Histopathologically, it was marked by the absence of melanin and a mononuclear cell infiltrate at lesion margins. The disease was classified into three types based on melanocyte activity: absolute, relative type I, and relative type II. In 7 out of 50 cases, infiltrates caused basal cell layer dissolution, and inactive melanocytes could become active in repigmented areas.
303 citations
,
August 1971 in “The American Journal of Medicine” Melanocytes are destroyed by factors needed for melanin production, causing vitiligo and gray hair.
3 citations
,
May 2023 in “Frontiers in immunology” Faulty inflammasome activation may lead to autoimmune skin diseases and could be a target for new treatments.
24 citations
,
January 2008 in “KARGER eBooks” The document concludes that ongoing research using animal models is crucial for better understanding and treating Alopecia Areata.
January 2009 in “Springer eBooks” The document concludes that managing skin conditions during pregnancy is important and requires specialized care.
59 citations
,
September 2008 in “Experimental dermatology” Both mouse and rat models are effective for testing alopecia areata treatments.
134 citations
,
July 2020 in “Experimental dermatology” Hair follicles are normally protected from the immune system, but when this protection fails, it can cause hair loss in alopecia areata.
56 citations
,
January 2021 in “Clinical and Experimental Medicine” The document concludes that while there are various treatments for Alopecia Areata, there is no cure, and individualized treatment plans are essential due to varying effectiveness.