Understandably this is a time of fear and uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 virus. Our Vitiligo patients are asking many questions around this topic. The most frequent question is will they be more vulnerable to the virus. How will this virus affect them? Vitiligo Treatment and your Immune System is a subject that we need to expand on:

We are told those with a weak immune system are at higher risk of contracting the virus. But although Vitiligo is an immune disorder it is not an illness. Therefore, having Vitiligo does not make you more vulnerable to Covid-19 than anyone else. So, while those with a compromised immune system are more likely to suffer a more intense form of COVID-19 Vitiligo patients do not fall into this group.

Vitiligo Treatment and your Immune System

Your immune system is a complex and finely tuned network of cells

While it is widely believed that Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease it is NOT to say Vitiligo sufferers with be more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus.

Your immune system is a complex and finely tuned network of cells and tissues throughout the body. The immune system includes the skin, gut, spleen, liver and lymph nodes. The body’s immune system is constantly working to prevent infection from harmful pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.

When the immune system recognizes a threat, it goes into defense mode. The body releases white blood cells and other immune compounds that destroy foreign invaders.

Vitiligo Treatment and your Immune System

In fact, the antibodies stay in a person’s body for future use

Older adults tend to have a weaker immune system than younger people. With age, it’s thought that the body produces fewer T cells in other words the cells that attack pathogens.

Our body has such amazing abilities! The immune system keeps its own record of every germ that has entered your body and been destroyed. This stored information is used to allow the body to work more swiftly when attacked by these germs. It allows the body to quickly destroy repeat invasions by the same micro-organisms. In fact, these antibodies it produces stay in a person’s body for future use.

The immune system is tested by doing blood tests. These tests can determine if the levels of infection-fighting proteins in your blood are normal. These proteins are known as immunoglobulins.  The test will also measure the levels of red and white blood cells as well as immune system cells. Abnormal numbers of certain cells can indicate a defective immune system.

Certain autoimmune conditions weaken the immune system making it easier to develop infections, colds, and flu. This means that people with chronic immune conditions tend to be more prone to illness. They also usually take longer to recover from these illnesses. At the age of 7 or 8, most of people’s immune system development is complete.

Vitiligo patient’s immune system attacks the pigment producing cells of the body. Luckily this defect in their immune systems does not weaken it in other ways. In other words the body is not more susceptible to germs and viruses.