Is Vitiligo Hereditary? Causes, Signs, and Symptoms – Complete Guide

Vitiligo is a well-known disease in which the skin loses its color and creates white spots or areas in the different parts of the skin. This skin condition usually happens due to the stop-working or dying of the melanocytes in our body. The melanocytes are skin cells that give our skin color. The most frequent question that is naked about vitiligo is: Is Vitiligo a genetic disorder?
In this blog, we are going to know about the causes, signs, and symptoms of Vitiligo. We’ll also discuss whether this disease is passed down through families.

What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder in which the skin loses its natural pigmentation. This happens when the melanocytes that generate the melanin stop working or die inside the body. Thus without melanin, the skin shows spots or white patches, small in size or large, and it is well spread to any body location. Usually, these patches show on the skin area exposed to the sun such as hands, face, arms, and feet.

Vitiligo is not harmful and does not have an impact on overall health, it may hurt the appearance of one’s body and self-esteem. The condition can affect people of all ages, genders, and races, though in individuals with darker skin, it may be more prominent.

Causes of Vitiligo:

Vitiligo’s causes are not fully explained or understood but many aspects play an important role in its development. Dermatologists usually believe that Vitiligo can be linked to these causes:

1. Autoimmune response: The immune system may react against the melanocytes in the skin and cause loss of pigmentation and white patches. This is the basic reason for this vitiligo according to the theory of science.
2. Genetic Factors: Vitiligo can be run in between the families, it has a higher chance that if the parent of the child is suffering from this disorder then the child may develop it. It also depends on the history of the family. Genetics can be another reason for having vitiligo.
3. Environmental Triggers: External events like injuries to the skin, sunburn, psychogenic stress, or any kind of chemical can trigger Vitiligo in anyone who is already genetically predisposed to it.
4. Other Health Conditions: Some people face Vitiligo because of autoimmune diseases such as the thyroid, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. These causes can be linked to having Vitiligo.

Is Vitiligo Hereditary?

One of the most commonly asked questions about Vitiligo is whether it is hereditary. The answer to that question is that, technically, Vitiligo does tend to be familial, but not strictly an inherited condition. Meaning if one or both of their parents have Vitiligo, there is an increased chance that the offspring might develop it, too; however, it can occur without a family history.

According to various research, genetics may contribute to the condition of Vitiligo. Several genetic factors were said to cause such a disorder; however, it is necessary to highlight that having a specific gene doesn’t automatically diagnose a patient with this problem. They become more vulnerable only.

Genetic Vs Hereditary

Here is a table outlining the differences between hereditary and genetics:

Signs and Symptoms of Vitiligo

The most common and well-known sign of vitiligo is having white patches on the skin of different parts of the body. These all the patches can get reduced or grow with time. There are a few common signs and symptoms of Vitiligo:

1. White or light-coloured patches on the skin: The skin color is affected in many areas and with time it will lose the color and pigment of the natural skin. This can make skin appear lighter or completely white. These patches can develop on any area of the body’s skin.
2. Change in Hair Color: Without melanin the overall body gets affected so does the hair area. The vitiligo changes the color of the scalp, eyebrows, beard, and small hair on our skin. These hairs can turn white or gray.
3. Loss of Color in Mucous Membranes: Vitiligo can also affect the mucous membranes of the inside parts of the mouth and nose which cause the loss of colors in these areas.
4. Sensitivity to Sunlight: The skin that loses its pigment can become easily irritated or develop sunburn by sunlight compared to normal skin.
5. Symmetry of Patches: Patches occur normally on the body as either symmetrically, and possibly even appear equally located but bilaterally.

If you feel the changes and notice any of these symptoms then you must visit the doctor or the dermatologist who can diagnose these. Early treatment can stop or manage the condition of the skin.

Treatment Options for Vitiligo

There is no particular cure for vitiligo but still, there are few treatment options that can manage the condition of this skin disorder.

• Topical Medications: The vitiligo disease can be decreased by steroid creams, calcineurin inhibitors, and other tropical medications. This is a slow process but at least it may stop the vitiligo from spreading.

• Light Therapy: Phototherapy or light therapy is the exposure of skin surfaces to ultraviolet light that is controlled. It aims at restoring pigment in affected regions.

• Skin grafting: In most cases, skin may need grafting or surgery for the skin. The healthy production of the pigmentation can be transplanted to the affected areas of the skin.
• Camouflage: Cosmetics and dyes can be applied on the white patches to cover the loss of pigmentation cosmetically.

• Depigmentation: In cases in which Vitiligo covers a very large area of the body, some patients may also seek treatment to remove whatever remains of the pigment in their skin so that it matches.
• Ayurvedic Treatments: The study found that Ayurvedic treatments, especially Bakuchi-based therapies, effectively treat vitiligo (Shvitra) with no major side effects, offering significant improvement in pigmentation and symptoms compared to conventional treatments like PUVA, making Ayurveda a viable alternative.

One must consult a doctor who will determine the best treatment for his case.

Conclusion

Vitiligo is a skin disorder that may pass through the families but this is not hereditary in every case. The genetic factor may affect the natural color of the skin and develop vitiligo. But environmental factors are the other well-known factors that can also be a reason behind vitiligo. There is no cure for vitiligo but the symptoms and the patches can be managed. If you or anyone around you is suffering from vitiligo then you must consult with a dermatologist for treatments and diagnosis.