Journalism of Courage
White spots are often mistaken to be Leucoderma
A white spot of leucoderma on the skin,although only cosmetics in nature,has a devastating effect on the psychology of that individual as it distorts the body image and causes anxiety,fear and concern that is comparable to that experience by a patient with any major illness. On a dark skin the condition is visibly striking since the patient has two contrasting colors on the body.
The disease in India has tremendous stigma. Not only for a person with lucoderma,but also for unaffected siblings it is difficult to find a mate for marriage.
This condition is not a contagious one. By this it means that it does not spread by touch,physical or sexual contact.
Role of diet is not scientifically proved as this condition is observed in people in different parts of world with altogether different types of food habits.
About 20 to 30 per cent of patients give positive family history of this disease. Although majority of patients have only cosmetic handicap some may have systemic association like thyroid disorder,diabetes and so on.
Natural color of skin is because of Melanin,a pigment produced by certain cells called Melanocytes in upper layer of skin. Melanin protects the skin from harmful ultra violet rays in sunlight. Due to certain defects,which are not fully understood,these melanocytes are destroyed,melanin production is hampered resulting in white spot at the site.
Not all white spots on the skin are necessarily of leucoderma. Many other skin disorders produce similar patches on skin e.g.
* In some infection like Leprosy & Pityriasis versicolor,there may be whitish patch on skin; though not completely white they can be mistaken for leucoderma.
* Certain chemicals are used in plastic or rubber can damage melanocytes in skin; articles like footwear,gloves made of such rubber or plastic can lead white spot at the site of contact of these things similar allergic reaction to chemicals used in Bindi can lead to white spot on forehead.
* In Guttate Depigmentation there are small pinhead to pea sized white spots on legs forearms and trunk,which are related to aging.
* White patches develop on waist due to constant friction of tight wearing clothes like dhoti or saris.
* Nevus Depigmentosus a congenial anomaly characterized by a single whitish patch commonly seen on trunk,which remains unchanged throughout life.
So before labeling any white spot as that of leucoderma it is advisable to get it examined by a dermatologist to rule out any other possilbilites.
Many treatments options are there for leucoderma.
* Use of certain medicine prepared from plants (Psorales corylifoia Bavachi) and exposing the white patches to sunlight is an ancient method of treating white spots.
* So ultra violate lamps of specific wavelengths are used for radiation on the white spots.
Skin grafting is a surgery in which a piece of unaffected skin of the patient is removed under anesthesia and fixed on the white spots,which are abaraded first.
* Melanocyte transplant,an advanced techniques invited by Dr Olson form Sweden,is a better option.
* In Micro pigmentation certain artificial colors are instilled in the white spots with sterile needles to give instant camouflage.
Inputs from Dr V M Ghate,consultant dermatologist
