BANGALORE: Social stigma, isolation and psychological trauma are some of the difficulties which people affected with leukoderma have to live with. As a result they tend to hide the disease and even refrain from seeking treatment .
In order to create an awareness among leukoderma patients, Bangalore Dermatological Society had organised a public awareness programme to observe ‘Leukoderma Day’ on Saturday at Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) .
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sudarshan, Principal, KIMS, said: “leukoderma is not contagious. With appropriate treatment the disease can be cured." Around 1,000 leukoderma patients from across the State took part in the awareness campaign. Later, a documentary film on the disease was released.
What is leukoderma?
Vitiligo, the medical name for leukoderma is a disease caused by destruction of cells called melanocyte in skin, which produce the pigment melanin responsible for our skin colour. Loss of this pigment leads to white patches in different parts of the bodythere are no other symptoms associated with it. It can occur at any age.