Vitiligo is a skin condition affecting a small percentage of people all over the world. This is characterized by the presence of white patches anywhere on the skin. This greatly impacts the physical appearance of a person and should be treated immediately to avoid the spread of the patches to the entire body. There is one major question in the minds of the patient and those around him: Is vitiligo contagious or not?
As you learned on the previous page, vitiligo appears because the body can no longer produce melanin. It is not caused by a germ or virus that can be transmitted from one person to the next, so the condition isn't contagious. In fact, vitiligo patients may feel isolated and alone simply because of their looks. Avoiding them out of fear that you may catch the disease could add to their pain
Lee Thomas, an Emmy Award-winning African-American television news anchor, understands the isolation and pain associated with having vitiligo. He first noticed white spots on his scalp more than a decade ago. Thomas said he hid his condition for as long as he could -- about four years -- because he feared other people's reactions to his appearance.
VITILIGO-A NON CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
Some significant facts regarding vitiligo are as under:Vitiligo is in fact a skin disorder.
White patches that appear on the skin are due to vitiligo
This particular color discoloration is due to the weakness of cells that produce melanin
Melanin is something that is responsible of our color skin
Why Vitiligo Seems Contagious ?
- It is a natural phenomenon that when somebody suffers from any disease, there comes doubt regarding its transmission. This is fact that our blood, secretions etc. may play role in spread of diseases but it varies from disease to disease. Although it is an accepted truth that vitiligo is not a contagious disorder yet we see some people are doubtful about it.The fact that is associated with vitiligo is that the patient makes himself separated from others due to this disorder.
- Initially, there comes a sense of complexity in sufferer's mind due to which the patient tries to avoid the social interactions with fellows etc.
- This kind of self made social boycott gives a feeling of some contagious disease, though there is nothing like that.
- There are so many evidences that prove this fact
- Vitiligo is not found in whole family members that are because of its non contagious nature
According to some skin experts, vitiligo is just a cosmetic disability that is limited to a single person
If vitiligo would be contagious, there was a huge ratio of patient across the world
It is fact that both kinds of vitiligo i.e. segmental (SV) and non segmental vitiligo (NSV) differ with each other on the basis of many aspects.
