The unpredictable course of Vitiligo creates fears and embarrassment in people with Vitiligo. No one can be sure that how it will progress. Cure of disease is not a simple thing. There are of course treatments that can improve the condition but it last only for a few years.
Many people with Vitiligo experience a range of odd feelings and emotions including shock, denial, anger, fear, guilt, anxiety, isolation and finally acceptances. But some people suffer from low self esteem and lack of confidence because they do not accept the reality in true spirit. Many children are teased and bullied at school due to Vitiligo.
Vitiligo does not hinder itself activities of person, to achieve any goal in life. Once the patient realize, it does not have to take over your life. Focusing on your good points and building up your self esteem will help the patient to put Vitiligo behind the scene. Psychological support from friends and family is essential. One may need a course of counseling helpful.
During social life people stare at sight of Vitiligo because it looks strange. Explaining what it is can help to decrease their fears. So Vitiligo people should be prepared with few simple phrases. it is Vitiligo, a condition that affects pigment cells in my skin. They are not functioning properly or missing from my skin and that causes these white patches. It is not life threatening.
Humor is another way of dealing with rude or intensive remarks. Having Vitiligo is not a tragedy but it can threaten your social identity.
Albinism and Vitiligo
Vitiligo and albinism are two entirely different and unrelated diseases. Albinism is an inherited disorder and is present at birth but Vitiligo is an acquired autoimmune disorder which starts somewhere after birth. There is a little variation in course of albinism but Vitiligo can improve and worsen with treatment and time.
Albinism has two varieties in ocular and oculocutaneous albinism. In ocular variety only ocular involvement like eye lids, retina iris etc. is found. In oculocutaneous variety, eye and skin, both are involved. Whereas Vitiligo is a patchy disorder which can take many different shapes. Biochemically, albinism occurs due to defect in melanin formation, while Vitiligo results from destruction of milanocytes.
The patient with Vitiligo can have improvement with treatment while albino can not have improvement with any treatment.
