Integument System
Vitiligo
Definition- is a chronic skin condition characterized by portions of the skin losing their pigment. It occurs when skin pigment cells die or are unable to function. Aside from cases of contact with certain chemicals, the cause of vitiligo is unknown. Research suggests vitiligo may arise from autoimmune, genetic, oxidative stress, neural, or viral causes. Vitiligo is typically classified into two main categories: segmental and non-segmental vitiligo.
History- Descriptions of a disease believed to be vitiligo date back to a passage in the medical text Ebers Papyrus circa 1500 BC in ancient Egypt. Mentions of whitening of the skin was also present circa 1400 BC in sacred Indian texts such as Atharvaveda as well as Shinto prayers in East Asia circa 1200 BC. The Hebrew word "Zora'at" from the Old Testament book of Leviticus dating to 1280 BC described a group of skin disease associated with white spots, and a subsequent translation to Greek led to continued conflation of those with vitiligo with leprosy and spiritual uncleanliness Medical sources in the ancient world such as Hippocrates often did not differentiate between vitiligo and leprosy, often grouping these diseases together. In Arabic literature, the word "alabras" has been associated with vitiligo, with this word found in the Koran. The name "vitiligo" was first used by the Roman physician Aulus Cornelius Celsus in his classic medical text De Medicina.
Treatment- There is no cure for vitiligo but several treatment options are available. The best evidence is for applied steroids and the combination of ultraviolet light in combination with creams. Due to the higher risks of skin cancer, the United Kingdom's National Health Service suggests phototherapy only be used if primary treatments are ineffective. Lesions located on the hands, feet, and joints are the most difficult to repigment; those on the face are easiest to return to the natural skin color.
Symptoms-The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of depigmented skin which tend to occur on the extremities.
Cause- a loss of pigment in the skin, due to destruction of pigment-forming cells known as melanocytes.
Diagnosis- If your doctor suspects you have vitiligo, he or she will ask about your medical history, use a special lamp to shine ultraviolet light onto the skin to determine whether you have vitiligo. In addition to gathering your personal and family medical history and examining your skin, your doctor may take a small sample of the affected skin and have a biopsy done, draw blood for lab tests
Case Study- When Chantelle Brown-Young was 4 years old, a mysterious white patch appeared on her stomach. Diagnosed with the skin disorder vitiligo, Brown-Young watched as similar spots spread all over her body over the next few years, including on her hands, knees and face. "The bullying started when I went to school, it was tough. I definitely had problems with self-esteem." Brown-Young said in a interview with People Magazine. Her striking appearance caught the attention of Tyra Banks, who discovered Brown-Young on Instagram and asked her to compete in cycle 21 of Americas Next Top Model "I'd only been modeling for maybe a year before she found me, so I was pretty fresh," says Brown-Young, of Toronto. "The fact that she wanted me so badly for her show will stick with me for the rest of my life." The self-proclaimed vitiligo spokes model hopes her run on the show will inspire others to follow their own dreams.
"Growing up, it was a 'fake it 'til you make it' type of thing. I just decided, ‘You know what? I'm going to keep telling myself I'm beautiful until I feel beautiful.' And it happened.
http://www.people.com/article/americas-next-top-model-chantelle-brown-young-vitiligo-cycle-21-tyra-banks
History- Descriptions of a disease believed to be vitiligo date back to a passage in the medical text Ebers Papyrus circa 1500 BC in ancient Egypt. Mentions of whitening of the skin was also present circa 1400 BC in sacred Indian texts such as Atharvaveda as well as Shinto prayers in East Asia circa 1200 BC. The Hebrew word "Zora'at" from the Old Testament book of Leviticus dating to 1280 BC described a group of skin disease associated with white spots, and a subsequent translation to Greek led to continued conflation of those with vitiligo with leprosy and spiritual uncleanliness Medical sources in the ancient world such as Hippocrates often did not differentiate between vitiligo and leprosy, often grouping these diseases together. In Arabic literature, the word "alabras" has been associated with vitiligo, with this word found in the Koran. The name "vitiligo" was first used by the Roman physician Aulus Cornelius Celsus in his classic medical text De Medicina.
Treatment- There is no cure for vitiligo but several treatment options are available. The best evidence is for applied steroids and the combination of ultraviolet light in combination with creams. Due to the higher risks of skin cancer, the United Kingdom's National Health Service suggests phototherapy only be used if primary treatments are ineffective. Lesions located on the hands, feet, and joints are the most difficult to repigment; those on the face are easiest to return to the natural skin color.
Symptoms-The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of depigmented skin which tend to occur on the extremities.
Cause- a loss of pigment in the skin, due to destruction of pigment-forming cells known as melanocytes.
Diagnosis- If your doctor suspects you have vitiligo, he or she will ask about your medical history, use a special lamp to shine ultraviolet light onto the skin to determine whether you have vitiligo. In addition to gathering your personal and family medical history and examining your skin, your doctor may take a small sample of the affected skin and have a biopsy done, draw blood for lab tests
Case Study- When Chantelle Brown-Young was 4 years old, a mysterious white patch appeared on her stomach. Diagnosed with the skin disorder vitiligo, Brown-Young watched as similar spots spread all over her body over the next few years, including on her hands, knees and face. "The bullying started when I went to school, it was tough. I definitely had problems with self-esteem." Brown-Young said in a interview with People Magazine. Her striking appearance caught the attention of Tyra Banks, who discovered Brown-Young on Instagram and asked her to compete in cycle 21 of Americas Next Top Model "I'd only been modeling for maybe a year before she found me, so I was pretty fresh," says Brown-Young, of Toronto. "The fact that she wanted me so badly for her show will stick with me for the rest of my life." The self-proclaimed vitiligo spokes model hopes her run on the show will inspire others to follow their own dreams.
"Growing up, it was a 'fake it 'til you make it' type of thing. I just decided, ‘You know what? I'm going to keep telling myself I'm beautiful until I feel beautiful.' And it happened.
http://www.people.com/article/americas-next-top-model-chantelle-brown-young-vitiligo-cycle-21-tyra-banks