Is Vitiligo Hereditary? Can it be Prevented? Individuals often ask if they are at risk of inheriting Vitiligo from their parents. It’s also a question we ask in our assessment submissions as it helps us determine the correct treatment required for this condition.
What is Vitiligo
First, let’s recap a few facts about Vitiligo. Vitiligo manifests as a lack of pigmentation on parts of your skin. This appears as white spots or patches. Furthermore, it can appear on the lips and affect the colouring of the hair.
Vitiligo appears on all parts of the body. Most often on areas exposed to the sun as this is the area most likely to be damaged by outside elements. Likewise, on area that are joint areas, such as hands, feet, elbows and knees. Other areas affected is the areas around the eyes, nostrils and genital areas.
How we get our skin tone
The more active our melanocytes, the more melanin they produce. The production of melanin is what determines our skin tone. Therefore the more melanin you produce the darker your skin tone.
Melanin produces our natural skin colour. Cells called Melanocytes produce this melanin. Damaged or destroyed Melanocytes no longer produce melanin resulting in white spots or patchy skin.
Vitiligo Causes
Vitiligo is essentially an autoimmune disease. It is neither contagious nor life-threatening. The worst consequence of the condition is the stress it causes the patient. The social stigma and difference in appearance is hard to come to terms with and by no means inconsequential. Teenagers and children experience tremendous stress as a result of being teased by their peers due to the appearance of these white spots or patches.
Vitiligo often runs in the family. If the parents have Vitiligo the children have a higher chance of suffering from the condition at some stage of their life. About 25 to 50% of Vitiligo patients have relatives who also have the condition. Strangely only about 6% of siblings seem to suffer from Vitiligo.
These patients seem to have a family history of autoimmune disease. Autoimmunity causes other medical conditions. An example of this, besides Vitiligo, is thyroid dysfunction. Many Vitiligo patients also suffer from thyroid problems. Researchers believe genetic Vitiligo is a result of 3 faulty genes. This, in addition to the environmental factors common to the family, may result in Vitiligo.
Treatment
Treatment for patients who are predisposed to Vitiligo is conducted with our Vitilox Pigmentation Cream and also the Vitilox T-Cell-V tablets.
The Vitilox T-Cell-V tablets work effectively in slowing down and stops the Vitiligo from spreading further. They are also excellent in boosting your immune system. Perfect if you are predisposed to Vitiligo.
You would also need to start the pigmentation process again, and this would be done with the Vitilox Pigmentation Cream.
The Vitilox Pigmentation Cream is effective and easy to apply. It is also odour free, and absorbs quickly into the skin. This Cream is the ‘trigger’ in restoring your natural pigmentation.
Once your pigmentation has returned, we do suggest you use our Vitilox PMF – Pigmentation Management Formula, to maintain your immune system and prevent the re-occurrence of the Vitiligo to another part of your body. This product only needs to be taken for a six-month period, and after that can be discontinued.
Our Vitilox PMF was formulated to contain missing elements found to be lacking in patients who have the Vitiligo genes. It contains increased amounts of vitamin B6, B12, Folic Acid, and Trimethylglycine used to control Homocysteine levels. Therefore, this capsule balances the homocysteine count that is a factor in individuals at risk of hereditary Vitiligo.