The Nitrogen Family Elements at a Glance

Author: Mike Jonesbr
Source: articlesbase.combr
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One estimate says that as many as 50 million people are affected by Vitiligo around the world, and the vast majority develop Vitiligo before middle age.As this condition can be distressing it is good to get a basic education about it so you can at least be of support and offer practical help in some cases.1. Just exactly what is Vitiligo?Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder which causes white patches of skin to develop on various parts of the body. Mucous membranes found inside the mouth, nose, and genital areas are destroyed. Often hair that grows in areas affected by Vitiligo turns white also.Vitiligo is NOT contagious!2. How is Vitiligo most easily recognized?Often recognizable patterns develop in the white patches:The Focal Pattern is where blotches of white skin appear in small limited areasThe Segmental Pattern is where patches of white skin appear on one side of the body onlyThe Generalized Pattern is where the areas of pigmentation disorder appear on many and various parts of the bodyParts of the body often affected are around the mouth, eyes and nose, as well as the underarms and also the genital areas.3. Who are most likely to be affected by Vitiligo?There is no delineation according to gender or even race. One common factor though is that Vitiligo sufferers often have an auto-immune disease where an individuals immune system works against their own body organs.Heredity can also be a factor although the majority of children of parents with the condition are not affected.4. A doctor will need to carry out various tests in order to diagnose Vitiligo?A small biopsy and the giving of a blood sample may be included. The doctor may also delve into a persons medical and family history to see if there are other cases of auto-immune disease.5. How fast does Vitiligo spread to other parts of the body?This is a matter each individual must consider as to what is best for them. In some Vitiligo sufferers the condition remains isolated to just a few areas. Other sufferers report that the white patches spread at various rates. Reports indicate in the majority of cases the blotches will progressively spread.6. Are there any other effects from Vitiligo?Many persons with Vitiligo suffer varying degrees of emotional stress and depression. In the case of young persons especially the effect can be psychologically devastating due to concerns on how they will be accepted by their peers.The effects on a person when Vitiligo spreads to visible parts of the body can be traumatic. The person may not want to socialize and as a result they can become withdrawn.In view of this, family and friends need to offer strong emotional support, being willing to listen and empathize. There are various support groups and organizations available which do an excellent job.7. What solutions are available for Vitiligo sufferers?Concealing cosmetics can be used to mask the skin contrast.Among the medical and surgical options currently available are the use of steroids, skin grafting and implanting pigment into the skin through the use of tattoos. Obviously research about Vitiligo never stops so it is good to check with your medical professional to find out the latest developments and treatment options.In conclusion, it must be recognized that Vitiligo can cause acute distress to those with the condition even though it is not contagious. The emotional and psychological effects however can be contained and minimized through the understanding and support of family, friends and acquaintances.br
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pLearn how to cope with the emotional and psychological aspects of vitiligo on this page: a rel=nofollow,nofollow href=http://www.bodyfaq.com/Advice/vitiligo/vitiligo-faq.htm target=_blanka rel=nofollow,nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.bodyfaq.com/Advice/vitiligo/vitiligo-faq.htmhttp://www.bodyfaq.com/Advice/vitiligo/vitiligo-faq.htm/a/a/pbr
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Author: Cindi Gass
Source: isnare.com

Vitiligo (often called as leucoderma) is a disorder where the skin loses its color in patches of irregular shapes and sizes. This is a pigmentation disorder which means that melanocytes (the pigment-producing cells) in the skin get destroyed. This results in the development of white patches on the skin. The hairs which are growing in that area may lose their color and turn grey.

The causes:

The cause for vitiligo is not very clear, but doctors and researchers are beginning to believe that vitiligo resembles an autoimmune disorder. Which means that the pigment (the matter that gives colour to our skin) producing cells of the skin are destroyed by the body’s own antibodies (defense cells).

In some cases, it has been observed that the onset of vitiligo is related to a psychologically stressful event in the patient’s life. People with a family history of vitiligo are more prone to developing these white patches. Ninety-five per cent of all those who develop vitiligo start developing symptoms before the 40th year of their life.

The symptoms:

People with vitiligo develop white patches on their skin of irregular shapes and sizes. Vitiligo is more common on the exposed areas, for example, hands, face, neck and arms. It also occurs on covered areas too like genitals, breast and legs. In some patients, the hair may also turn grey early and in the inside of the mouth, white discoloration may occur.

The spread of vitiligo cannot be determined. It may stop completely after the first patch, but often these patches do spread. For some patients, further development may take years and for others the large areas can be covered in months. In some patients, mental stress has been seen to increase the growth of these white patches.

According to homoeopathic philosophy, vitiligo is not a disease in itself but an expression of an inner disturbed state of the body. Thus, the cure should occur at a level where things have gone wrong. In order to achieve this, the problem is analyzed keeping in view various aspects of mental, physical and familial attributes, and also a complete study is done on the psychological environment of the patient. The prescription is then based at the deepest level of understanding of the patient’s disturbed inner force.

Although many homoeopathic medicines like Arsenic Sulph Falvus, Arsenic Album, Baryta Mur and Baryta Carb are known to give good results in vitiligo, the fact is that the real cure of vitiligo occurs when the prescription is made according to the true principles of homoeopathic philosophy – treating that “deep causative factor” behind this inner disturbance. Also remember that vitiligo is a chronic disorder and can take considerable time, even with the best of the homoeopathic treatment, to be completely cured.