What Is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo (or leucoderma) is a skin disorder characterized by the appearance of discolored patches on your skin. These patches can appear on different parts of your body. Vitiligo occurs as a result of the poor functioning of melanocytes, cells that produce melanin. Melanin is responsible for the pigmentation of your skin. During vitiligo, melanocytes are destroyed, and this hampers melanin production. Vitiligo can affect the mucous membranes present inside your mouth, nose, and eyes. In the following section, we will explore the causes of vitiligo.
What Causes Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, where your immune system mistakes the melanocytes in your skin as a foreign body and attacks them. This destruction of melanocytes impairs melanin production, thereby reducing skin pigmentation. According to Dr. K. Harish Kumar, MD DVL, vitiligo can also be genetic. The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown. While some sources blame excessive sun exposure, others link vitiligo to severe emotional distress. However, these claims are not supported by the medical community.
What Are The Symptoms Of Vitiligo?
The primary sign of vitiligo is the occurrence of white patches on your skin. These patches usually appear on the areas of the skin frequently exposed to the sun. They can be seen on your hands, feet, face, lips, and arms. They may also appear in the following areas:
Torso Armpits Groin Around your mouth Nostrils Around your eyes Rectal areas
Another sign of vitiligo is premature graying of hair. People with a dark complexion may observe skin lightening inside their mouth. These symptoms could be treated, and the appearance of the patches could possibly be reduced. The following home remedies will tell you how.
Home Remedies For Vitiligo
1. Ginkgo Biloba Paste
Ginkgo seed extract contains bioactive compounds that exhibit immunomodulatory properties. It can help induce repigmentation on areas where your skin has lost color (1). This means that your skin will slowly show signs of reduced white patches. Ginkgo biloba extract supplements Take the supplements as prescribed by your doctor. Take the supplements until the prescribed dosage is completed.
2. Neem Oil
Neem oil may reverse the effect of depigmentation, which is a result of vitiligo (2). The immunomodulatory effects of neem extracts may reduce the occurrence of white patches on your skin. 2-3 drops of neem oil Repeat daily to see a visible change.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric contains curcumin, an important antioxidant that may have some relieving effect on vitiligo (3).
1 teaspoon of turmeric powder 1 teaspoon of mustard oil
Repeat 3-4 times a week.
4. Ginger Juice And Red Clay
Ginger juice is a rich source of phytochemicals that may help reduce discoloration (4). The topical application of ginger juice with red clay can help increase the blood flow to the various spots in your skin and may induce pigmentation.
1 tablespoon of ginger juice 1 teaspoon of red clay
Repeat 3-4 times a week.
5. Radish Seeds And Apple Cider Vinegar
Radish seeds, when used as a paste, may help reverse symptoms of vitiligo. The bioactive compounds present in radish seeds and vinegar can help reduce discoloration and reduce white patches (5), (4).
1 tablespoon of radish seeds 2-3 tablespoons of ACV
Do this at least 3 times a week.
6. Pomegranate Leaves
Pomegranate leaves are rich sources of bioactive compounds that can help reduce the effect of vitiligo. The leaves can be used as a remedy to reduce the associated discoloration (6). 8-10 pomegranate leaves Repeat this every morning.
7. Green Tea
Green tea is a rich source of polyphenols. These polyphenols exhibit immunomodulatory properties and may help reduce the appearance of discolored patches associated with vitiligo (7).
A green tea bag A cup of warm water
You can repeat this 1-2 times daily.
8. Bakuchi Oil
The powder made from the seed of bakuchi (or Psoralea corylifolia) has been observed to help combat vitiligo (8). It contains phenolic compounds that can induce repigmentation.
110 grams of bakuchi seeds Ginger juice
Repeat this daily for 4 weeks.
9. Black Cumin Oil
Black cumin oil contains thymoquinone, a bioactive compound (9), (10). It can prevent oxidative stress and possibly treat the symptoms of vitiligo. 1 teaspoon of black cumin seed oil Repeat this daily for 3-4 months.
10. Black Pepper And Clarified Butter
Black pepper is rich in piperine, a compound that may help treat the symptoms of vitiligo (11). The clarified butter can reduce the pungent flavor of the pepper and make it more palatable.
1 teaspoon of black pepper kernels 1-2 tablespoons of clarified butter
Repeat this daily for a few weeks. These simple remedies can help you cope better with the symptoms of vitiligo. In addition to these, you also have a host of medical options that you can consider to treat vitiligo.
Medical Treatment Options For Vitiligo
There are a few medical treatment options available to treat vitiligo. The choice of treatment depends on a couple of factors:
Number of patches on your skin How many areas of your skin have these patches
Not every treatment can suit all due to potential side effects. Some treatments can take long to show results, and some may not work as desired. These treatment options include surgical, medical, and other procedures. Medical options include:
Medical creams or ointments Treatment using UV light
Surgical options include:
Skin grafting to treat smaller patches of vitiligo Skin tattoo
Other options include:
Use of sunscreen Use of cosmetics to conceal the patches
Apart from the medical treatment options, a proper diet may also help.
What Diet Can I Follow For Treating Vitiligo?
Following a balanced diet, along with drinking adequate water, can take you a long way on the road to recovery. Since vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, you must consume foods that help boost your immunity, including those containing phytochemicals, antioxidants, and beta-carotene. The following foods can help:
Fruits like bananas and apples Green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and lettuce Chickpeas Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beetroot Figs
The above-mentioned methods can help you better deal with vitiligo. That said, can you actually prevent vitiligo?
Can I Prevent Vitiligo?
Vitiligo cannot be prevented. But there are a few precautions you can take to reduce the appearance of the patches. These include:
Use sunscreen before you step out during the day. This can help protect your skin from sunburn and photodamage. Sunscreen mitigates tanning and can decrease the harm UV exposure causes to your skin. over your skin adequately, especially those parts that are affected by vitiligo. You can use concealing products that are dermatologically approved to reduce the contrast in skin tone. Avoid getting your skin tattooed or inked. If it is not related to the treatment of vitiligo, you should not subject your skin to the damage caused by tattooing as this may cause the appearance of a new patch within one or two weeks.
Do you have vitiligo? How do you deal with it? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment in the box below. Check out the infographic to know the types of vitiligo. How quickly does vitiligo spread? It depends on the case. While it can spread fast in some cases, it can take years to spread in a few others. Some individuals also stated that their vitiligo patches did not spread at all. What triggers vitiligo? Studies still haven’t found what triggers vitiligo, but there are claims that people with a genetic predisposition to vitiligo may develop it in their 20s or 30s. Is sunlight good for vitiligo? People with a lighter skin tone who have vitiligo must not expose their skin to excess of sunlight (may cause sunburns or long-term photodamage). You must use a strong, waterproof sunscreen to shield your skin from the harmful sun rays. Is vitiligo a type of cancer? No, vitiligo is not cancer. It is an autoimmune disease in which certain parts of your skin lose pigmentation. Can I get a tattoo if I have vitiligo? Any kind of trauma or injury to the skin with vitiligo patches may result in an increased number of patches over time. This is true for patients whose vitiligo is actively spreading. Therefore, it is best to avoid getting a tattoo. Is vitiligo a serious disease? No, vitiligo isn’t a life-threatening disease. However, people suffering from it may have an increased risk of developing mental health issues like stress and anxiety (12), (13). Can vitamin D reverse vitiligo? Yes, vitamin D may help slow the progression of vitiligo by increasing the tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis process. This may help in repigmentation with individuals with vitiligo (14). How can you tell the difference between white spots and vitiligo? Vitiligo often starts by appearing as a pale patch on the skin and eventually turns white. Unlike vitiligo, white spots disappear on their own. So, if you notice white patches that are taking too long to go away, consult a dermatologist for further diagnosis.
