Leucoderma

Definition

Leucoderma is also known as vitiligo. It is a distressing skin condition. The word Leucoderma means the white skin. There is a gradual loss of the pigment melanin from the skin layers which results in white patches. When leucoderma occurs without any preceding disease it is called vitiligo. Sometimes it follows burns and injuries. Some women develop it after the use of stick-on 'bindis' and after wearing plastic foot wear - this loss of colour is due to some chemicals present in the plastics.

Patches of leucoderma can be of variable sizes and shapes. They can occur just about anywhere on the body. In fair individuals, leucoderma often goes unnoticed, but on dark skinned people it can be very visible and cause severe embarrassment. Leucoderma does not cause any health problems - it is not contagious or dangerous at all. It is only a cosmetic problem.

Causes of Leucoderma

Causes of such as including:

• Pernicious Anaemia
• Sunburn
• Physical Illness
• Physical Trauma
• Diseases such as Diabetes
• Thyroid Disease or Addison's Disease.

Symptoms of Leucoderma

Vitiligo causes smooth, white skin patches. The problem of leucoderma usually starts with a small white spot and later on it develops into bigger skin patches. These skin patches are usually pale in the beginning and as time passes they become whiter and whiter, this is due to the loss of pigment in them. In some people, these patches can appear all over the body. In some of the rare cases, the whole body may be covered with broad white patches.

• Alopecia areata or loss of hair may also occur.
• Premature graying of the hairs.
• In this disease the problem starts with white pale spots. After sometime these white spots turns into bigger patches. The patches are pale in the starting but they turn whiter and whiter as the time passes. It happens due to loss of pigment from the skin.
• Spots may present with a single or several spots on limbs or abdomen or back and then spreading to other parts of the body.
• There may be Lichen sclerosus which is symptom of leucoderma.

Treatment of Leucoderma

• You should avoid fast foods, citrus fruits, coffee, tea, cold drinks, alcohol, beer, non-veg, egg, etc., since it can cause spread of the disease.
• Skin grafting, melanocyte transplantations and tattooing. All these procedures are costly and painful.
• There is no cure for leucoderma, but there are several treatments, including dyes or psoralens used in combination with Ultraviolet a light treatment.
• A paste made from the seeds of the radish is valuable in treating leucoderma. About thirty-five grams of these seeds should be powdered in two teaspoons of vinegar and applied on the white patches.
• You should also take medicines regularly in the early days itself, so that complete cure can be achieved
• Avoid working or roaming in the sun.

There is no cure for vitiligo, but there are several treatments, including dyes or psoralens used in combination with Ultraviolet A light treatment.