Best Home Remedies To Treat Vitiligo Diseases Vitiligo, (also called Leucoderma) is a chronic skin condition. Although it occurs in all age...
Best Home Remedies To Treat Vitiligo Diseases
Vitiligo, (also called Leucoderma) is a chronic skin condition. Although it occurs in all age groups, children and young adults (more than 20 years of age) are mostly diagnosed with the disease. An approximate diagnosis of 1 million cases of vitiligo happens every year in India. Let us learn about what vitiligo is, and what causes it. It’s better to consult with the Best Dermatologist for Vitiligo treatment in India before trying home remedies for white patches treatment.
What is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the cells responsible for the production of the skin pigment - melanin, are attacked and destroyed. This results in irregular white patches of skin. Vitiligo can affect any part of the body in the following types of ways:
- Generalised pattern (symmetrical depigmentation on both sides of the body)
- Segmental pattern (only one side of the body has depignimentationdepignimentationo)
- Focal pattern (depigmentation in one or more body areas)
What causes Vitiligo?
Vitiligo primarily occurs due to the lack of melanocytes (cells that produce skin pigmentation). In this condition, the immune cells consider melanocytes as antigens, and attack and destroy them. The destruction of these cells leads to the skin getting rid of its color, resulting in vitiligo. However, the exact cause of melanocytes destruction is unknown.
Symptoms
- Initially, white patches appear on sun-exposed areas such as hands, feet and face, in most of the cases. The patches are more prominent in patients with a darker complexion.
- The patches can remain stable from months to years and may or may not spread.
- In some patients, there may be premature graying of body hair.
Trigger Factors for Vitiligo
Genetic mutations may result in vitiligo as it is an autoimmune disorder. Risk factors in people, as are listed below, trigger these mutations in certain ways:
- Stress
- Hereditary factors (Family History)
- Exposure to Ultraviolet Rays
- Weak immune system
- Exposure to harmful chemicals
10 Effective Home Remedies for Vitiligo
Although home remedies do not have the ability to cure vitiligo, they can help prevent formation of a new patch and improve the pigmentation of the affected skin of people to match the unaffected skin. Read on to find out how you can manage Vitiligo by making a few lifestyle changes
1. Natural vitiligo prevention
People with vitiligo may lack healthy levels of certain nutrients, according to Vitiligo Support International. Despite there being no evidence that eating certain food could worsen or improve your condition, some people who have subscribed to a variety of at-home treatment, have claimed success. Some of the popular topical home remedial ways to treat the condition are:
- Ginkgo biloba paste
- A mixture of sweet basil extract and lemon
- A mixture of mustard oil and turmeric
Ginkgo is known to have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties and it therefore potentially impacts the oxidative stress mechanisms of vitiligo.
2. Diet for vitiligo prevention
Although there is no evidence of an officially prescribed “vitiligo diet”, drinking lots of water and eating a positive-health diet full of good nutrients are some of the best steps that you can take. As is the case with any autoimmune disorder, immune system-boosting foods that contain beta-carotene, phytochemicals and antioxidants will be beneficial. Here is a list of some food items that people with vitiligo have found helpful for their condition:
- Bananas
- Apples
- Leafy greens, such as kale or romaine lettuce
- Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans
- Root vegetables, especially beets, carrots, and radishes
- Figs and dates
3. Vitiligo dietary restrictions
There are no medically recognized foods that worsen vitiligo, just as there is no prescribed diet for the condition. Anecdotal evidence, however, has shown that some people experience a negative reaction when they eat certain foods, especially those containing the depigmenting agent - hydroquinones. Everybody’s body is different, and thus different people experience different reactions to certain foods and different kinds of diets. Some of the top problem foods do not work well with people with vitiligo are:
- Alcohol
- Blueberries
- Citrus
- Coffee and caffeine
- Curds or dairy
- Pomegranate
- Fish
- Fruit juice
- Red meats
- Red tomatoes
- Wheat products like bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, etc.
4. Vitamins for Vitiligo Prevention and Treatment
According to some vitiligo patients, certain substances like herbs and vitamins have appeared to lessen their skin discoloration. These products are only supported by effective anecdotal evidence and have not been deemed medically effective as vitiligo treatments that might let one get rid of vitiligo:
- Beta carotene
- Ginkgo biloba
- Amino acids
- Enzymes
- Vitamin B-12, or folic acid
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
5. Minerals for Vitiligo Condition Prevention and Treatment
- Copper. Get a healthy amount of copper by drinking a glass of water out of a copper cup.
- Iron. People can get a healthy amount of iron by eating foods cooked in a cast-iron skillet.
- Zinc. You may wish to simply ingest zinc via a supplement, because many zinc-rich foods are on the restricted list of foods for vitiligo.
Also Read - Remedies to remove skin fatigue
6. Green Tea as Vitiligo Treatment
Green tea is rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols may help reduce the appearance of discolored patches associated with vitiligo because of their immunomodulatory exhibition ways. All one has to do is, take a green tea bag and steep it in a cup of boiled water, and consume the warm tea 1-2 times daily.
7. Bakuchi Oil
It has been observed that the powder made from the seed of bakuchi (or Psoralea corylifolia) helps combat vitiligo. The phenolic compounds that it contains can induce repigmentation. Oil treatments have proven to be effective in mitigating the symptoms that come with the condition. You will need:
- 110 grams of bakuchi seeds
- Ginger juice
Soak the bakuchi seeds in ginger juice for 3 days, following which you dry them and grind them into powder. You can consume 1 gram of this powder with milk,daily for four weeks.
8. Black Pepper and Clarified Butter
Black pepper is a rich source of piperine, a compound that may help treat the symptoms of vitiligo. The clarified butter makes it more palatable by reducing the pungent flavor of the pepper. You Will Need:
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper kernels
- 1-2 tablespoons of clarified butter
All you have to do is simmer the blacck pepper kernels in the clarified butter. Consume this mixture with your food daily, for a few weeks.
9. Massaging with vitamin E or olive oil as a Treatment
Researchers have come to learn that the addition of topical olive oil to NB-UVB for segmental vitiligo patients showed better pigmentation pattern and earlier occurrence of repigmentation. This shows that olive oil can get us better results. Vitamin E oil is also included in a list of natural home remedies for vitiligo disease, because it has rejuvenating properties. Vitiligo conditions result in irritation, white patches and itchiness. The use of vitamin E oil can help prevent these symptoms.
10. Using sunscreen if the affected area is exposed to sun
The vitiligo condition may be worsened even if you use the top natural home remedies for vitiligo but are still exposed to the sun. Sunlight can make the white patches spread further and damage the skin. A doctor would recommend applying sunscreen with at least SPF 20 before you go out.
Conclusion
Vitiligo, or Leucoderma is quite often a lifelong condition, and it can take some time to get better. Patients who feel a lack of confidence and self esteem issues due to vitiligo should subscribe to psychological support and services. Although it can’t be cured, there are measures you can take to prevent it from worsening and potentially treating it, including eating a diet good for health, full of balanced foods. Although different pharmaceutical companies advertise medicines and products with claims to mitigate the disease, the safest way to go about it is to depend on naturally derived home-made remedies. Consult your dermatologist (skin doctor) for expert advice on how your skin will react to vitiligo.
