Kim Kardashian recently opened up about a personal family matter on the She MD podcast, sharing that one of her sons with ex-husband Kanye West has been diagnosed with a skin condition known as vitiligo. The 43-year-old business mogul mentioned that her son “has vitiligo very mildly,” though she did not specify whether she was referring to five-year-old Psalm or eight-year-old Saint.
Vitiligo is a long-term condition that causes patches of skin to lose their pigment and become paler. Dr. Vinesh Mistry, an NHS GP and doctor at One Day Tests, explained: “There are several types of vitiligo, but it is usually classified as generalized (affecting both sides of the body) or segmental (affecting only one part or side of the body).” According to the NHS, vitiligo can affect any area of the skin but commonly appears on the face, neck, hands, and in skin creases.
Dr. Mistry added, “Vitiligo can affect people of any skin color, not just those with darker skin tones or mixed-race parents. The condition is also not associated with skin cancer.” The white patches associated with vitiligo develop because the affected individuals lack enough melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin. Triggers such as severe illness, stress, and chemical skin injuries, along with a positive family history, may contribute to the development of vitiligo.
The NHS website details that non-segmental vitiligo, the most prevalent type, appears to be an autoimmune disorder. The initial signs of vitiligo are pale patches of skin that gradually turn pure white. At the center of the affected patch, the skin often appears white, with the color fading to lighter hues at the edges. Blood vessels beneath the skin may give the patch a pinkish appearance, and the edges may be smooth or irregular. In some cases, the patches might be red or swollen, or have a brown tint known as hyperpigmentation. While vitiligo is not associated with painful skin conditions like dryness, the affected areas might occasionally itch.
Vitiligo can be hereditary, but it does not follow a simple inheritance pattern. Dr. Mistry noted, “A child of a parent with vitiligo is not guaranteed to acquire the condition. Even in identical twins, there is no guarantee that both would be affected, supporting the theory that vitiligo has both genetic and environmental determinants.”
Watch the video below:
The post Kim Kardashian Reveals Son’s Vitiligo Diagnosis first appeared on The Source.
The post Kim Kardashian Reveals Son’s Vitiligo Diagnosis appeared first on The Source.