Vitiligo vs Vertigo: Understanding the Key Differences
Vitiligo and vertigo are two distinct medical conditions that sound similar and are sometimes mistaken for the same thing. However, vitiligo and vertigo can occur at the same time. This is because the skin cells destroyed in vitiligo (i.e. melanocytes) have a protective effect against environmental invasion and damage.
Accurate diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions like vitiligo and vertigo involves being able to differentiate and identify the underlying causes or risk factors. Therefore, in this article, you will improve your understanding of vitiligo and vertigo as well as briefly distinguish these two conditions.
What is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a long-term skin disorder that occurs as a result of a lack of melanin. It is an autoimmune condition that begins with the destruction or loss of melanocytes, the cells responsible for giving your skin and hair their color. The most common type of vitiligo, known as generalized or non-segmental vitiligo occurs when the immune system attacks melanocytes and destroys them.
The destruction of melanocytes accompanied by the development of white patches in vitiligo can occur due to a variety of factors. They include neural, genetic, autoimmune, oxidative stress, production of inflammatory mediators, and other mechanisms that impact the melanocytes.
What is Vertigo?
Vertigo is a type of dizziness that makes you feel like your head is spinning. It can begin seconds or minutes after a type of head movement or a sudden change in position and can last less than a minute if the head is in a fixed position. This condition can make you feel like you are going to fall over. Activities that can trigger vertigo vary. These activities often involve moving your head to a position such as quickly looking up, lying down on one ear, rolling over in bed, getting up with force after sitting for a long time, etc.
What Causes Vitiligo and Vertigo?
Vitiligo is caused primarily by a lack of melanin in the skin. Consequently, this results in reduced production of melanocytes and leads to white patches on various parts of the body. This depends on where the highest number of melanocytes is absent. The risk factors include a family history of vitiligo or autoimmune conditions and genetic changes. The triggers include stress, sun exposure, and exposure to chemicals.
The most common cause of vertigo is benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV). It is called BPPV because it is not harmful to your health, can occur without warning, is caused by head movement, and induces a spinning sensation. BPPV occurs when there is a disturbance in the tiny particles (crystals) present in the balance center of the inner ear due to sudden movement or change in position. It affects people of different ages and is associated with varying symptoms. These symptoms include; feeling lightheaded, nausea, problems with balance, etc.
Can Vitiligo and Vertigo Be Prevented?
Like most autoimmune conditions, it is challenging to prevent it since it occurs internally. However, you can adopt measures to reduce the risk or manage these conditions. For vitiligo, protecting your skin from sun exposure, managing stress, and addressing underlying autoimmune conditions can help. For vertigo, these measures include lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and addressing vitamin deficiency (particularly Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D) by using NATURE’SFIELD B-MAX. This can help reduce the severity of symptoms and avoid the complications of vertigo.
Vitiligo can be mentally and psychologically challenging for some people to deal with. However, it doesn’t mean you cannot live your life as depigmentation due to vitiligo is not a death sentence. It is essential to avoid the triggers of vitiligo because this condition increases the risk of developing other health conditions. These conditions include lupus, thyroid disorders, and even rheumatoid arthritis. Understanding the risk factors and mitigating them is a recommended approach for improving vertigo and vitiligo.
