Hypopigmentation - Causes,Treatments and Cures
Hypopigmentation and Tinea Versicolor
Hypopigmentation is a condition in which the pigment producing melanocytes are either deactivated or are completely destroyed. Yet another reason for this could be the lack of the base protein to create the skin pigment melanin, called tyrosine. Since tyrosine is available from a number of essential dietary sources like dairy, sea food, nuts, and fruits. In most of the cases of Hypopigmentation, tyrosine deficiency is usually never a suspect unless one is living off an intravenous nutrient source. If this is the case, then supplementation usually takes care of the problem. Most hypopigmenation problems are symptomatic of other kinds of diseases like vitiligo and leprosy. Most other cases of hypopigmentation can usually find their causes in genetic defects like albinism. Some of the acute cases can trace their origins to diseases like tinea versicolor and the use of corticosteroid creams.
The skin pigment is called melanin. This is synthesized in the melanosomes of the melanocytes by an enzyme called tyrosinase. There is a very special use for melanin and that is to prevent damage from sun exposure. The radiation from the sun that we see is part of the spectrum of visible light; however, there are other forms of radiation from the sun that we cannot see like infrared radiation that we can feel in the form of heat and ultraviolet radiation that can only be sensed by some animals. We only know by our body tanning that we are in the presence of ultraviolet radiation. This radiation is harmful to use and can damage skin at the cellular, DNA level. This can even go on to cause cancer with mutated DNA. This is where melanin comes into the equation by absorbing the radiation and converting it to harmless heat. In the process, it darkens because of an incomplete oxidative reaction called oxidative stress.
Treatment For Hypopigmentation
Treating hypopigmentation requires treating the underlying cause like tinea versicolor by using antifungal medication. Autoimmune diseases like vitiligo require the use of corticosteroid creams, Psoralen from celery and parsley, and prolonged sun exposure to bring back skin color. Leprosy is quite curable now so treating that condition is the first step. In all cases of hypopigmentation, the governing principle is to expose yourself regularly to the sun so that the melanocytes are continuously stimulated to produce melanin. Or, the excess exposure will cause the body to create more melanocytes that can make up for the loss of cells from autoimmune disease and injury.
