Vitiligo: Part Of The Integumentary System

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Case Study 5: Vitiligo
What part of the Integumentary System is affected?
The stratum basale of the epidermis is part of the integumentary system that is effected by this condition. The stratum basale where melanocytes are housed and where melanin is made doesn’t send melanin out to the rest of the layers due to the defect in the functioning of the cells.
What negative impact could this disease have on the body?
The areas of the skin without pigmentation has a decreased barrier of protection, therefore is more susceptible to UV damage from the sun. The loss of pigmentation to the skin creates patches that are lighter in color compared to the rest of the body. The lighter areas of the epidermis can be damaged by the sun causing the skin to be severely sunburned therefore causing the cells to be damaged. This can lead to cancer causing cells to form which can potentially lead to skin cancer. The melanocytes functions by absorbing the sun’s ultraviolet rays and turning it into heat. A person with vitiligo has diminished amounts of cells in their body to help with this function of protection. …show more content…
This drug acts by suppressing the immune system. Why might this be helpful in treating some cases of vitiligo?
Using a drug that suppresses the immune system can be helpful in treating vitiligo because it is an autoimmune disease. The immune system does not recognize the pigmentation cells so it attacks the cells causing the body to attack its own cells. The drug can help to stop the immune system from doing
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