Patient/caregiver was educated on risk factors and causes of vitiligo development as follows:
- Vitiligo is a skin condition caused by patchy destruction to and loss of melanin producing cells in the body.
- The destruction to melanocytes is mainly autoimmune mediated in which body’s own protective immune system becomes defective and produces antibodies directed against the melanocytes.
- These antibodies destroy the melanin producing melanocytes, leading to loss of the pigment. This results in development of white or light-colored patches in the area of skin involved.
- Vitiligo can also occur secondary to familial inheritance. Exposure to chemicals and sunburn can also result in damage to melanocytes and development of vitiligo spots.
- Vitiligo usually involves skin on the sun-exposed body parts, such as, hands, feet, face, lips, and hair on the scalp, eyebrows, eye lashes, and bearded areas.
