This is the picture

[Carmen101]

I think its Viligoe what do you think?..

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

Please go and see your doctor. No one can diagnose from a picture. Please get a referral to see a dermatologist, a medical doctor who specialises in the skin. A blood sample and biopsy will be taken and you will then have the correct diagnosis.

I cannot stress enough that asking non-doctors for a diagnosis is unhelpful. First, we are not doctors; second, only a doctor who examines you can make a diagnosis - and even then, a biopsy and blood tests will be needed.

Vitiligo, a disorder in which white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. This happens because the cells that make pigment (colour) in the skin are destroyed. These cells are called melanocytes.

It is a medical condition. People get vitiligo when their body attacks its own melanocytes the cells that give our skin, hair, and other areas of the body colour.

These cells live in the skin, hair, lips, mouth (inside of), nostrils, genitals, rectum, eyes, and inner ear. When the body attacks them, the result can be a few light-coloured patches on the skin. Others see widespread loss of skin colour. Hair can develop a white streak. This can happen to hair anywhere on the body, including the top of the head, an eyebrow, or eyelash. If the body attacks these cells in the inner ear, the person may develop hearing loss.

You need to see a dermatologist.

What causes the body to attack these cells is not entirely understood. Vitiligo may be an autoimmune disease. These diseases happen when the person’s immune system mistakenly attacks some part of the body.

Symptoms

Vitiligo

The main sign of vitiligo is patchy loss of skin colour. Usually, the discolouration first shows on sun-exposed areas, such as the hands, feet, arms, face and lips.

Vitiligo signs include:

Patchy loss of skin colour

Premature whitening or graying of the hair on your scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard

Loss of colour in the tissues that line the inside of your mouth and nose (mucous membranes)

Loss of or change in colour of the inner layer of the eyeball (retina)

Vitiligo can start at any age, but often appears before age 20.

Depending on the type of vitiligo you have, the discoloured patches may cover:

Many parts of your body. With this most common type, called generalized vitiligo, the discoloured patches often progress similarly on corresponding body parts (symmetrically).

Only one side or part of your body. This type, called segmental vitiligo, tends to occur at a younger age, progress for a year or two, then stop.

One or only a few areas of your body. This type is called localized (focal) vitiligo.

It's difficult to predict how your disease will progress. Sometimes the patches stop forming without treatment. In most cases, pigment loss spreads and eventually involves most of your skin. Rarely, the skin gets its colour back.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if areas of your skin, hair or eyes lose colouring. Vitiligo has no cure. But treatment may help to stop or slow the discolouring process and return some colour to your skin.

Causes

Skin layers and melanin

Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes color. The involved patches of skin become lighter or white. Doctors don't know why the cells fail or die. It may be related to:

A disorder in which your immune system attacks and destroys the melanocytes in the skin

Family history (heredity)

A trigger event, such as sunburn, stress or exposure to industrial chemicals

Complications

People with vitiligo may be at increased risk of:

Social or psychological distress

Sunburn and skin cancer

Eye problems, such as inflammation of the iris (iritis)

Hearing loss

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

With good wishes,

Ros