The Mysore Dermatology Society (MDS), in association with K.R. Hospital, will observe World Vitiligo Day on Thursday on the hospital premises.
The event plans to dispel misconceptions among people about vitiligo and instil confidence in those afflicted with the disease. The MDS will create awareness about the treatment available for vitiligo.
B. Krishnamurthy, Dean and Director of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, will inaugurate the programme.
Y.M. Shivakumar, president, K.A.K. Surendran, secretary, and D.P. Jayanth, treasurer, of the association, said that a vitiligo clinic will be held at the hospital after the inaugural function. Apart from giving free medical advice, medicines will be distributed for free, they said.
B.L. Nanjundaswamy, Professor of Dermatology Department, MMCRI, will deliver a lecture on vitiligo, causes and different types of treatment available to treat the disease.
Dr. Shivakumar said vitiligo is an acquired disease characterised by skin depigmentation, due to destruction or malfunction of melanocytes (cells that produce melanin).
Quoting statistics, he said roughly over 100 million people in the world are affected and depression, anxiety, social embarrassment and self-consciousness caused by the disease are very frequent. The office-bearers of the society expressed concern that some general physicians, who may not have complete knowledge about the disease and treatment, were misguiding the patients by saying that there is no cure for the disease.
But there are many treatments available, including phototherapy. To stop the spread, oral steroids are given, they said.
The doctors said that vitiligo patches may be covered temporarily by special cosmetic creams (camouflage creams. They further noted that vitiligo over lips and finger tips may not respond to phototherapy. Skin grafting and other surgeries are needed to re-pigment the skin.
