World Vitiligo Day 2022: Experts guide on how to cope up with the condition
World Vitiligo Day is observed on June 25 every year to create awareness around the condition and make people aware of the cause and the various treatment methods available for it.
The first World Vitiligo Day was observed in 2011, led by Ogo Maduewesi, founder and president of Vitiligo Support and Awareness Foundation (VITSAF) in Lagos, Nigeria. Ever since the day has been observed annually as World Vitiligo Day.
Vitiligo is a condition in which there is loss of melanin in the skin. This leads to patchy discoloration in the skin. Due to the absence of melanin production in the body, the skin looks patchy instead of having an even tone and colour.
“Vitiligo is a common skin condition with white or depigmented patches over the body. For centuries vitiligo was considered as a cosmetic concern! Patients were prescribed creams or light therapy to address the problem. But very little was done to address the challenges faced by them. Vitiligo affects a person emotionally. Especially in a country like ours if a girl child has vitiligo it affects the whole family. Thankfully due to awareness by medical fraternity communities it’s no longer considered as a ‘curse’,” says Dr Yuti Nakhwa, Consulting Dermatologist and Cosmetologist at Global Hospital Parel, Mumbai.
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This skin condition affects a person mentally more than its physical implication. Vitiligo is a non-life threatening condition, but the skin discoloration affects the confidence of a person.
“Vitiligo patients have a high prevalence of psychological comorbidity. It has been observed that the patients affected by vitiligo lesions are often at a higher risk of suffering from Social phobia, depression, low self-esteem, isolations, or some degree of emotional devastation caused by the disease. It can be frustrating for an individual to look unusual because of vitiligo and battle with mind daily. People with vitiligo may have to deal with poor body image and may try to hide depigmentation by using clothes or makeup to avoid unwanted attention. This may add stress and impact self esteem,” says Dr Sahir Jamati, consultant psychologist and psychotherapist, Masina Hospital Mumbai
“Self acceptance is the first step,” explains Dr Nakhwa. “Stop hiding it from people. Once you accept it everybody else will follow,” the expert adds.
Have a regular sleep pattern, maintain a gratitude journal, join a vitiligo support group and take regular counselling to move forward towards a better mental health, say the experts.
SOURCE: Times of India
