For those of you who don't know, vitiligo is a harmless long-term skin disorder characterized by white patches that appear on different parts of the body. This happens because the body's immune system attacks and destroys the skin cells that make color (called melanocytes).

Around one percent of the world's population (approximately 50 million people) are thought to have vitiligo, including between two to five million in the US alone, and although it's more common in humans, it can also occur in animals as well. Take a look at the pictures below to see what we mean. Compiled by Bored Panda, the list includes everything from cats, dogs and birds to snakes and even giraffes! Don't forget to vote for your favorite.

So what is Vitiligo? What are the treatments? Vitiligo is a skin disease with white patchy spots on the skin due to pigment loss.

Vitiligo is a skin disease with white patchy spots on the skin due to pigment loss. Any part of the body may be affected. Common areas: face, lips, hands, arms, legs, genital areas.

It is seen in 1-2 of a hundred people. The disease usually begins before the age of 20 years. Family members of 1/5 patients have vitiligo. Most patients with vitiligo have good general health.

Why does vitiligo occur? It is a melanin pigment that determines skin, hair, and eye color. It is produced in cells called melanocytes. If these cells die or cannot make melanin, the skin will lighten or become completely white.

Vitiligo is caused by the loss of cells called melanocytes that give color to the skin. The body's own immune system washes melanocytes. Because the body perceives the cell that gives color to the skin as a harmful substance. Vitiligo can occur after severe psychological stresses (loss of a family member, earthquake, serious long-term problems in work and family life).

How does vitiligo develop? The course and severity of the disease vary from person to person. Light-skinned people can either directly notice the color difference between vitiligo areas and normal skin, or they will be noticed after tanning. Vitiligo is more easily noticed during the summer in dark people. Widespread vitiligo can sometimes cause pigment loss throughout the body. It is difficult to predict how much pigment will be lost. Typical vitiligo is manifested by milky white areas. The degree of pigment loss may be different in each vitiligo plate. There may be pigment shadows in the vitiligo area or a dark ring around the area.

Vitiligo usually begins with rapid pigment loss. This loss continues until the process stops for unknown reasons. The periods of pigment loss are followed by periods in which the pigment does not change. These cycles can last forever.

Spontaneous reversal of skin color in patients with vitiligo is rare. Patients who believe that they will no longer have vitiligo, have actually lost all their pigments and have no contrasting areas left on their skin. Their bodies have one color but their vitiligo persists.

How is Vitiligo treated? The treatment process in vitiligo is long. It may take months and requires good patient-physician communication. Because the process is long and the treatment is taken late, patients often turn to alternative methods and as a result they become material and moral victims. Avoiding bronzing in light-colored people prevents contrasting of the skin. The natural defense of the vitiligo area to the sun has been lost. These areas can easily develop sunburn. Therefore, a sunscreen with at least 15 factors should be used. The sun should be avoided as much as possible.

Light Therapy (Phototherapy) Light treatments have two effects. One of them is to weaken the body's attack against the color cells and the other is to stimulate the color cells in reserve, to increase and close the vitiligo areas.A problem in vitiligo in light treatments is that darkening of the normal skin outside the areas with vitiligo and more pronounced vitiligo in cabin treatments. In the newly emerged microphototherapy method, it was possible to pass the light over to the vitiligo area.

Narrow Band UVB Therapy: It is one of the most effective treatment methods in the treatment of vitiligo. It is applied with cabin treatments in patients with diffuse vitiligo, and with newly released microphototherapy method in some areas of the body. There is no need to use any medication before treatment. Treatment is often administered 2 or 3 sessions per week. Rarely, sunburn-like rashes can be seen as side effects and they disappear within a short time.

Results are often taken within 10-20 sessions. This is due to the slow proliferation of color cells. The treatment expectancy of our patients should be long term.

PUVA treatment: Before light treatment, a drug called psoralen is used. This drug makes the skin sensitive to light. The skin is then exposed to a special type of UV light. You need special medical equipment. If vitiligo is in a confined space, psoralen can only be applied to the skin before UVA treatment. However, it is usually given orally as a pill.

In the treatment with PUVA, the probability of gaining the old skin color on the face, body and arms and legs close to the body is 50-70%. Hands and feet respond weakly. Usually you need to treat twice a week for 1 year. It is common for PUVA to produce a sunburn-like reaction. Long-term use may cause skin freckling and increase the risk of skin cancer. Because psoralen also makes eyes more sensitive to light, UVA blocking sunglasses should be used until sunset. This reduces the risk of cataract formation. PUVA is not used in children under 12 years of age, in pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers or in certain cases (drug use, disease)

Drug Treatments;Topical corticosteroids: Corticosteroid-containing creams are effective in restoring the color of small vitiligo areas. This method can be applied in combination with other treatments. However, these agents have side effects such as skin thinning and should be used under doctor supervision. In particular, the use of cortisone in the face is not recommended because of its skin-thinning effect. Pimecrolimus and Tacrolimus: These are the newly released forms of ointments used in organ transplants. As with cortisones, it does not have skin-thinning effects. They can therefore be used safely in the face area. Typically, they may feel pity and stinging on first use. The use of very common lesions in children is not recommended.

Depigmentation treatment (Discoloration of intact skin) The most practical method for patients with very common vitiligo is to lighten the remaining pigmented area and give the whole body the same color. This can be achieved by the monobenzyl ether form of hydroquinones. This treatment takes about a year. This treatment is the last option in vitiligo. There is no turning back. Since the skin color of the patient was reset, there was no sun protection. Serious flushing under the sun. Over time, the risk of developing skin cancer in these areas is increased.

This disease is more common in humans. However, it is also seen in animals. What we mean is what you mean. There are many animals with this disease.However, this disease makes them unusual shows how special they are.If you like them,Please share on Facebook with your friends.