Theme: “Vitiligo: Looking into the Future”

World Vitiligo Day takes place on June 25. It was first celebrated in 2011 and is also known as Vitiligo Awareness Day’ or Vitiligo Purple Fun Day, as purple is the official color representing the condition.

Vitiligo is a skin disorder in which the skin cell melanocytes that produce melanin are destroyed by the body’s immune system, causing the skin to lose its colour and resulting in whitish, smooth patches on the skin as well as a total loss of skin color. Vitiligo is a rare disease which can occur in about 1% to 2 % of the population. It is a lifelong disorder. Other symptoms include hair turning prematurely gray or white and eyelashes or eyebrows losing color and turning white. It can happen to all genders and ethnic groups and generally affects the age group between 20 and 30.

HOW TO OBSERVE WORLD VITILIGO DAY

• Purple is the color of vitiligo awareness. You can participate by wearing the shirt and encouraging others to do the same.
• Educate yourself about the disorder.
• You can always run a fundraiser or host an event to raise money for vitiligo research.
• There is still much prejudice against people with vitiligo. Educate people around you that it is not contagious or a sickness like leprosy.

FACTS ABOUT VITILIGO

• There is no cure
• Vitiligo can be managed by eating correctly, taking care of your skin by not exposing yourself to too much sun, using organic lotions, exercising, and reducing stress.
• We do not know the cause of the different types of vitiligo.
• Vitiligo is not contagious
• It occurs anywhere on the body, around the eyes, mouth, elbows, wrists, hands, and ankles.
• Many famous people have vitiligo like Winnie Harlow, John Hamm, and Joe Rogan.

RISK FACTORS OF VITILIGO

The absolute cause of vitiligo is not known but some of the known factors that could be the cause of vitiligo are:

• Autoimmune Disorder: This is a condition in which the affected person’s immune system may produce antibodies that destroy the melanocyte.
• Genetic factors: Inheritance could be one of the factors that could lead to the cause of vitiligo. Around 30% of the affected have a history of vitiligo presence in their family.
• Neurogenic Factors: There is a chance of releasing toxins at nerve endings in the skin, which can destroy melanocytes.
• Self-Destruction: a defect within the melanocytes can lead to self-destruction

SYMPTOMS OF VITILIGO

The main symptom of vitiligo is the loss of pigment that occurs in any part of the body. The other symptoms can include:

• Premature whitening of the hair on the head, eyelashes, eyebrows, or beard
• Itching in the affected area
• Discolouration of the mucous membranes (tissue that lines the inside of your mouth and nose)
• Loss or discolouration of the inner lining of the eyeball (retina)

WHY WORLD VITILIGO DAY IS IMPORTANT

• The day creates awareness around the bullying, social neglect, psychological trauma, and disability of the people affected by it. In some cultures, there is extreme prejudice against people with vitiligo, and only educating them will help.
• The movement calls for better treatment and care of vitiligo and improvement in the healthcare systems. This is especially needed in poorer countries.
• Social media highlights the beauty of people with vitiligo. This day shines a positive spotlight on a sensitive issue.
• Every year on 25th June, World Vitiligo Day is observed with the aim of increasing the effort for vitiligo healthcare and education and raising awareness of the social stigma and mental challenges faced by those affected by vitiligo.

VITILIGO TREATMENT OPTIONS

There are various treatment options available for vitiligo, but unfortunately, there is no cure. Some available Vitiligo treatments are:

• Camouflage therapy
• Repigmentation therapy
• Light therapy
• Surgery

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