Vitiligo is Related to Endocrine System

Endocrine system consists of the endocrine gland and endocrine cells from certain organs which form the inner body transmission system. It has a close relationship with the nerves and immunity system. They coordinate each other to maintain the homeostasis of the internal environment. The high-efficacy bioactivator-hormones are secreted by the endocrine gland or endocrine cells, it exerts by transmission of the interstitial fluid and blood. Study shows that melanocyte stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and thyroid hormone, melatonin can inhibit formation and metabolism of the melanin. All these indicate that the vitiligo diseases have the close relationship with the endocrine system.

1) Melanocytes stimulating hormone, according to the research that the melanocytes stimulating hormones are secreted by the adrenocorticotropic cells. adrenocorticotropic hormones are produced by the adenohypophysis. Melancytes stimulating hormones consist of two kinds of hormones which are alpha and beta, alpha melancytes stimulating hormone combine with the receptor on the normal melancytes surface. It can improve the blood copper level, and promote the tyrosinase activity, and direct join the melancytes metabolism process. and stimulate the formation and the syntheses of melancytes. As you see, alpha melancytes stimulating hormones have a significant effect to adjust the function of the melancytes unit of skin. At the same time melancytes hormone also can promote the melancytes differentiate and proliferate which are stored at the external hair follicle root sheath cells.

2) Glucocorticoid is secreted by the adrenocorticotropic hormones, artificially synthesized glucocorticoid commonly used have the prednisone, dexamethasone and hydrocortisone. The major effect to the melanin metabolism is related to the melancytes stimulating hormones. In the normal situation melancytes stimulating hormones is relative balance with the glucocorticoid, once it is not balance, the skin color will be affected. The reason is the hydrocortisone inhibits pituitary gland to secrete the melancytes stimulating hormones, but it has a slight direct effect to melancytes. External using glucocorticoid hormone can use to treat vitiligo, it is because it can inhibit the abnormal immunity activity and eliminate the free radicals.

3) Adrenocorticotrophic hormones is secreted by the adenohypophysis, we found that the original pigmented nevus color become more deeper for many patients after using the adrenocorticotrophic hormones, and the new pigmented nevus will appear. The skin color will deeper after localized using this hoemones. This may probably because the adrenocorticotropic hormones contain melancytes stimulating hormones. So we usually will see some reports that using the adrenocorticotropic hormones can treat vitiligo.