Physical Factors behind Vitiligo

Skin is the biggest organ of human beings. Many skin diseases are related to direct contact with outside world. Both external and chemical factors can not be neglected to the onset of vitiligo. The following are the physical factors that induce and worsen vitiligo.

Sunlight

Excessive sun exposure can cause melanocyte hyporactivity and bring out early decay for its depletion. Excessive production of melanocytes and accumulation of intermediates cause damage or death of melanocytes. However, it is also adverse for vitiligo patients. If they keep out of the sun for a long time, out of the worries about the aggravation of vitiligo. Appropriate sunlight can activate melanocyte and then produce melanin to restore skin color. Doctors will take phototherapy to treat vitiligo clinically. But long term harsh sun exposure still should be avoided for vitiigo patients.

Mechanical stimulus

Friction, compression, scratching are common causes of vitiligo. For example, white patches often appear on both sides of the nose bridge and on the ears in people wearing glasses. White patches often appear on the breast, groin, waist because of tight bras, panties,belts. Rubbing vigorously in the shower can cause white patches to appear on the chafed site. Due to the size and tightness of the shoes, the white patches appear on the back of the foot, inside and outside the ankles in children. Mosquito bites or repeated scratching of itchy skin can trigger localized white patches.

Trauma, frostbite, burns, surgery

These factors can not only whiten the localized skin , but also cause white patches to appear around the normal skin.