Vitiligo does not spread by touch

Vitiligo commonly known as Sheti in Bangladesh, is a depigmentation disorder affects the skin melanocyte cells by our own immune system  - mainly the T lymphocyte. Many factors are associated for vitiligo. In Bangladesh, many people assume it  a contagious disease - but scientifically it is a myth. It occurs for the hyperactivity of the body's defense system that kills the melanin producing cells.

To raise awareness every year 25th June is considered as the world vitiligo day - the funeral day of Michele Jackson, the renowned music star who suffered from vitiligo and was criticised for his condition and that tempted him to do plastic surgery of his face.

Since vitiligo patients deal with a lot mental crisis as the society does not accept them as they are, we need to accept the vitiligo patients as a normal member of our society and help them to lead their life with our support and proper treatment.

It is an autoimmune disease that means our own immune system recognise the melanocyte cells (it produce melanin which determine the skin color) as antigen or something harmful for the body by mistake. So there might be a genetic modification which leads to this faulty recognising process of T lymphocyte (a component of immune system).

According to a professor of Massachusetts Institute of Medicine, Jhon E. Harris, we can hold the problem by systemic suppression of the immune system to a certain level. The researcher group found that if the immune system is suppressed to a kidney transplant level plus UV-B therapy brings a fruitful result (in kidney transplantation immune system could affect the newly added kidney, so the action of it turned to lower to protect the new kidney).

On the other hand, mouse model vitiligo study demonstrated that interferon gamma IFN-g neutralisation results no CD8+ T cells accumulation on the skin that results no depigmentation. The IFN-g inactivation can be achieved by JAK (Janus Kinase) inhibiting agents which are effective to re-pigmentation of the skin.

Unfortunately, this skin disorder is reoccurring; most of the patients have experienced the problem re-occur. As it is the result of autoimmune problem, it would be helpful to avoid the food staff which is allergic to individuals. Before taking any medication like JAK inhibitors it is highly recommended to consult with a dermatologist.

Tawhid Islam is a student at Department of Pharmacy,  Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj-8100, Bangladesh E-mail: tawhidislam2021@yahoo.com; Dr Muhammad Torequl Islam is an Assistant Professor at the same institute. Email: mti031124@gmail.com