Difference Between Vitiligo and Psoriasis
Both Vitiligo and Psoriasis are autoimmune disorders, but they manifest differently. Vitiligo causes skin discoloration due to the destruction of melanocytes in the epidermis, leading to white patches. Patients with vitiligo may develop psoriasis, but the reverse is less common. A proper diagnosis and treatment can help restore immune system balance. At Provitale, the best homeopathy doctor specializes in homeopathy and aesthetics, making it an ideal combination for treating vitiligo and psoriasis.
Autoimmune Disorders
The immune system fights foreign bodies like bacteria and viruses. However, in autoimmune disorders, it mistakenly targets the body’s own cells. There are over a hundred such disorders, with vitiligo and psoriasis being among the most common. Vitiligo appears as white patches on the skin, especially in specific areas.
- Around the mouth and eyes
- Inside the mouth
- Hairs
- Armpits
- Neck
- Hands and wrists
- Groin and genitals
Patches stand out more in individuals with darker skin.
In psoriasis, skin cells multiply up to 10 times faster than usual, leading to raised red patches covered with white scales. This condition is more common, affecting about 3% of the population. The rapid cell growth causes thick, discolored skin with silver scales.
Although psoriatic patches can appear anywhere on the body, the most common sites are:
- Scalp
- Face especially mouth
- Lower-back
- Elbows
- Palms and fingers
- Knees
- Feet
Vitiligo & Psoriasis thus are due to an altered immune system that mistakenly attacks its own body’s tissues to destroy the melanocytes leading to vitiligo or result in psoriasis when skin cells rapidly divide and hence they are more of a systemic disease than just skin deep. Auto-immune diseases are not contagious but, do sometimes happen in members of the same family. Though the exact cause of autoimmune disorders is not known, it is attributed to a combination of factors. Since it is seen running in families, genetic predisposition cannot be ruled out. Accordingly, the causes can be:
- Idiopathic – cause not known
- The immune system gets inflammation
- A certain combination of food like fish along with milk
- Some groups of medications like Beta-blockers, anti-malarial drugs etc
- Auto-immune disorders tend to be hereditary, but they may skip generations
- Environmental factors
In general, there are periods of remission and bouts of flare-ups or increased disease activity in a person’s life.
Vitiligo and psoriasis are autoimmune diseases with related genetic predispositions and hence figuring out a difference between both maybe not be possible. Vitiligo destroys pigment and creates white patches of skin. Psoriasis causes discoloured patches with silvery scales. Some people have both of them, and sometimes, psoriasis only appears in vitiligo patches. Since both are interrelated due to their auto-immune nature, one increases your risk chances of manifesting the other.
Treatments for these conditions that are immunity mediated have some overlap. When compared to other vitiligo treatments like supplements or surgery or other treatments for psoriasis such as anthralin or methotrexate, homoeopathy drugs are free from side effects and safe for all.
It is hard to imagine how your self-esteem is affected by having one skin condition. Now that having two is still difficult.
Rest assured, effective treatments are available for vitiligo and psoriasis at Provitale a single-stop solution for all ailments for both you and your family.
For more details please get in touch with us @:
#16, Dishan 1 six, Mezzanine floor, Jayanagar 3rd block, Bangalore – 560011
+91 95357 05088
info@provitalehealth.com