Vitiligo is skin disease that commonly results in large patches of milky-white discoloration spreading all over the body. This condition commonly affects the skin, hair, and eyes. Since the appearance of someone who suffers from vitiligo is so different from what society perceives as "normal," many myths and misconceptions have risen from fear and misunderstanding of the disease.
- "Vitiligo is caused by faulty skincare products."
Vitiligo occurs when melanin-producing cells in the skin stop working or die completely; this is in no way related to the use of lotions or deodorants. Extensive research has been done to determine the cause of vitiligo. Though the exact cause remains unknown, it is thought to be a combination of biological and environmental factors. Disorders that affect the immune system, such as thyroid conditions or autoimmune diseases, are thought to be linked to vitiligo. - "Vitiligo is aggravated by certain foods."
Many people believe that vitiligo is caused or worsened by eating white foods such as milk or sour foods like citrus fruits. However, vitiligo has not been proven to have any connection to diet. Diet has no impact on the severity of your vitiligo and avoiding certain foods will not slow or increase the spread of the disease. - "People with vitiligo have decreased mental and physical capabilities."
It is often assumed that individuals who suffer from vitiligo are mentally or physically inferior compared to the rest of the population. Vitiligo is purely a condition that affects the skin alone. It has no bearing on the intelligence or health of the people who are affected by it. - "Vitiligo is contagious."
There is a stigma attached to vitiligo that if you come into contact with someone who has the disease, you will develop it as well. However, vitiligo can in no way be transmitted from person to person via touch, saliva, blood, inhalation, sexual intercourse, or sharing personal items. Vitiligo is not infectious in any way. - "Vitiligo is related to other skin conditions."
Some people believe that vitiligo can be grouped in with other conditions that affect the skin, such as albinism, skin cancer, or leprosy. However, there are very clear differences between all of these disorders, and none of them are in any way related to vitiligo.
Albinism means that you are born with little or no melanin in your skin, while vitiligo occurs usually years after birth when the melanin-producing cells become damaged. Also, albinism encompasses the entire body, whearas vitiligo usually does not.
Skin cancers are the result of mutations in the DNA of your skin cells. Vitiligo does not change the makeup of your DNA; it only affects the outward appearance of your skin.
Leprosy is a disease that is caused by a bacterium and it is highly contagious. If leprosy is left untreated, it can cause abscesses and nerve damage throughout the body. Vitiligo though doesn’t cause any damage beyond the outward appearance of the skin; it is not physically harmful or painful at all.
