Whiteness (vitiligo) is not a “cosmetic defect”: disease affects quality of life and emotional state | Lifetime



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It turns out that the disease has a greater negative impact on the quality of life of women: the study found that for the fairer sex, whiteness influenced the change in the routine of body care and even the choice of clothing for use. Additionally, women are more likely to feel embarrassed and upset, upset by a bad mood, concerned about the possible spread of the disease, according to the report.

It has been observed that as the age of the patients increases, so does the feeling of shame, anxiety and helplessness due to the appearance of the skin.

International whites (lot. vitiligo) has been celebrated worldwide since 2011. June 25 was chosen not by chance: this day also marks the date of Michael Jackson’s death.

The famous singer was an extremely important personality for the sick white community, his life received a lot of attention and showed that the disease affects a person’s emotional state, quality of life and does not always attract positive attention from others.

AFP / Scanpix Photo / Michael Jackson (2005)

AFP / Scanpix Photo / Michael Jackson (2005)

On this day, the objective is to inform the public and draw attention to the sick and their problems related to the disease, such as bullying, social isolation, the negative impact on mental health. This year, the main focus is on the quality of life of sick people: protein is not just a “cosmetic defect”, this disease strongly affects the emotional state and daily activities of a person.

Protein is defined as an acquired autoimmune skin disease that lasts a lifetime and manifests as the disappearance of skin pigmentation. The disease affects men and women of all ages with the same frequency.

The first signs of the disease, a rash, usually appear before the age of 20. An estimated 0.5 to 3 percent of whites are sick. total populations depending on geographic location. The disease develops due to dysfunction or death of melanin-producing cells, but the exact origin of the protein is not completely known. The researchers attribute the onset of the disease to oxidative stress, autoimmune, genetic and neurohumoral factors.

Photo by Vida Press / Winnie Harlow

Photo by Vida Press / Winnie Harlow

The protein is clinically manifested by clearly limited whitish patches on the skin or mucous membranes that tend to occur in areas exposed to the sun, wrinkles on the body or on the mucous membranes of the mouth or nose, but can also occur in any other body area. The appearance of new rashes can be caused by physical trauma to the skin, burns, stress, pregnancy, vitamin deficiency, and more.

An estimated 0.5 to 3 percent of whites are sick. total populations depending on geographic location.

The disease is usually diagnosed on the basis of a characteristic clinical picture of the protein. Although the disease is not curable, a variety of methods can achieve long-term remission, which is why doctors encourage not to anticipate the disease at hand. Early application of treatment has been found to help achieve better results, making it extremely important to see a dermatologist as soon as possible. Patients can receive topical, systemic or surgical pigmentation therapy and phototherapy. In the case of a large area of ​​the lesion, depigmentation treatment or masking agents may be prescribed.

The influence of whiteness on the quality of life of the patient is significant. This disease is still often considered just a “cosmetic” problem, but research shows that the protein causes stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and social isolation for patients. Patients are found to be at increased risk for psychiatric illness: depression is 5 times more common among those with whites than in the general population.

A study conducted in Lithuania in 2019 only confirmed these assumptions: Older Lithuanians, in comparison to younger patients, avoid physical closeness more and are concerned about the opinion of others and the spread of the disease. Quality of life is affected by the area of ​​skin damage. In more than 25 percent. area of ​​skin damage, social and emotional problems of respondents, such as anxiety, physical and emotional well-being, desire to be with other people, opportunity to make new friends, increase. The impact on quality of life also depends on factors such as gender, duration of illness, and affected skin area.

Due to the aforementioned impact on the patient’s mental condition, it is important to constantly assess the impact of the disease on quality of life; It is necessary to monitor the well-being of the person both at the beginning of the disease and during treatment using standardized questionnaires. Periodic surveys provide an opportunity to identify the need for psychological help in a timely manner and to provide it in a timely manner.

It is important to emphasize that education for both the public and the medical community is crucial to address the impact of illness on mental health and to dispel the myth that whiteness is just a “cosmetic” problem. At the same time, it is necessary to provide information on possible treatments that promote pigment production in the skin or depigmentation, the care of the patient’s skin, reduce the risk of spreading the disease and effective masking products such as camouflage cosmetics. or cosmetic tattoos.

Photo by Scanpix / Winnie Harlow

Photo by Scanpix / Winnie Harlow

It is gratifying that in a society where the cult of perfect beauty is highly exalted, whiteness is spoken more and more openly and more and more daring to share their experience of living with this disease. One such person is model Winnie Harlow, who by her example inspires and helps many patients to accept the disease, not to break down emotionally and to love its uniqueness.

Increased publicity and education for the public and health professionals are crucial to improving the quality of life for people with whites. It is encouraging to be inspired by positive examples and to love another person or their uniqueness.



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