Mysore Dermatology Society (MDS) in association with the K.R.Hospital will observe 'World Vitiligo Day' on June 25 in K.R.Hospital premises and it plans to dispel the misconceptions among people about the Vitiligo and instill a confidence among those afflicted with the disease.
The MDS would create awareness about definite treatment available for the disease.
Dr. B. Krishnamurthy, Dean and Director of the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute will inaugurate the programme.
Dr. Y.M. Shivakumar, president, Dr. K.A.K. Surendran, secretary and Dr. D.P. Jayanth, treasurer of the association, said that a vitiligo clinic will also be held at the hospital after the inaugural function. Apart from free medical advice, patients will also receive free medicines.
Dr. B.L. Nanjundaswamy, Professor of Dermatology department, MMC RI will deliver a lecture on vitiligo, the causes and different types of treatment available to treat the disease.
Dr. Shivakumar said that Vitiligo is an acquired disease characterised by skin depigmentation, due to destruction or malfunction of melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) and quoting a statistics he said that roughly over 100 million people in the world are affected. He noted that depression, anxiety, social embarrassment and self-consciousness caused by the disease are very frequent and he heard from many patients about insult, discrimination at work and other difficulties. He said that the MDS wanted to create awareness among people and help them in treating patients on par with other normal persons.
The office bearers of the MDS further said that it is important to seek help of a skin specialist at the earliest in case of Vitiligo. They said that many people are still under a false impression that it is contagious and hence keep distance from the affected people. They expressed concern over few general physicians who may not have complete knowledge about the disease and treatment may tell the patients that there is no cure for the disease. But there are many treatments available for the disease including phototherapy. To stop the spread, oral steroids are given. Phototherapy (UVA and NB UVB) are some of the options to get back the normal skin colour, they said adding that starting treatment early is important for best results.
