If you see continual and long-term white patches of depigmentation on your skin, it could be vitiligo. Vitiligo is a condition that appears when melanocytes in your skin are no more alive. This bunch of cells is responsible for producing the melanin pigment that endows the skin with its colour as well as protects it from the harmful UV rays. The area which may be affected by this dermatological disease varies from person to person, and it can also affect the hair, mouth and eyes as well. In most cases, the vitiligo affected area stays discoloured for the rest of the patient s life.

Various types of vitiligo and their symptoms
Scientists have classified vitiligo into two types: segmental and non-segmental. The non-segmental vitiligo is the most common variant and 90 percent of vitiligo affected patients suffer from this kind of disorder. In this disease, the patches take place with little symmetry on both sides of the body. It can be further broken down into 5 sub-divisions.

Generalised vitiligo: It can occur at any part of the body without any rules, and this is by far the most common type.
Acrofacial vitiligo: It is mostly seen on the toes and fingers.
Mucosal vitiligo: In this condition, the discolouration normally takes place around the lips and mucous membranes.
Universal vitiligo: This is the rarest type of vitiligo where the whole body is covered in white patches.
Focal vitiligo: This is most commonly found in children. The children have white and scattered patches across the body.
Possible treatments for vitiligo

Though there are no treatments possible that will re-pigment your skin to its original colour, there are several remedies that aid in decreasing the visibility of white patches on the affected areas of the skin. Some of them include:

Phototherapy with UVB radiation: This is a common form of treatment where the affected area is exposed to UVB radiation and can be performed at home too. If you have large white spots across the body, it is important to have the treatment performed by an expert at any healthcare centre.
Phototherapy with UVA radiation: In this treatment, a drug is first administered for increasing skin s sensitivity to this radiation. Then the affected area of the skin is exposed to high doses of UVA radiation.
Skin camouflage: In mild cases of vitiligo, cosmetic creams and make-up can be used to camouflage the affected area. It can last for about 12- 18 hours when applied in proper techniques.
In case you are suffering from vitiligo, it is crucial to speak with an expert and opt for the best means to curb down the impact of vitiligo.

Vitiligo - Signs You Are Suffering From It!

Vitiligo is a skin disorder where white patches of depigmentation develop on the skin and keep enlarging. This disorder is long term and continuous in nature. The patches appear due to the death of melanocytes within the skin. Melanocytes are skin pigment producing cells, which produce melanin. Vitiligo can affect the skin of several areas, including the eyes, hair and the portion inside the mouth.

Causes
The causes of this disease are as follows:
1. Autoimmune disorders in which the immune system of a patient becomes over reactive and the melanocytes are destroyed.
2. This disease may also occur due to genetic oxidative stress imbalance.
3. Stressful events may also lead to vitiligo.
4. Harm or damage to the skin from sunburns or cuts also leads to vitiligo.
5. Exposure of the skin to several harmful chemicals may be a cause.
6. Neural disorders are also responsible for vitiligo.
7. Vitiligo may also happen from viral causes or may be hereditary and passed on from family members.

Symptoms
Vitiligo has only one major symptom. White, flat spots and patches develop on the surface of the skin. The earliest of these white patches appear on the parts of the body which are exposed to the sun continuously.
It starts off as a simple spot in the beginning and gradually, the spot starts getting pale and finally turns white. The patches have irregular shapes, and in some cases the edges get inflamed and are red in color. Itchiness is experienced in the affected areas. Symmetrical patches signify slow development of vitiligo.

The two major types of vitiligo are:
1. Non segmental vitiligo, which affects the back of the hand, the arms, knees, elbows, feet, mouth.
2. Segmental vitiligo, which is more stable than non segmental vitiligo, but spreads faster. It usually affects areas of the skin, which are attached to nerves.

Treatment
The different methods of treatment for vitiligo are:
1. Phototherapy with UVB and UVA light: Exposing the affected area of the skin to UVB lamps is a popular cure for vitiligo. This treatment can be performed easily at home. UVA treatment incorporates taking of a drug which makes the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light and then the skin is exposed to high doses of UVA light.
2. Skin Camouflage: Cosmetic creams and makeup can be used to camouflage affected areas of the skin. These topical creams are waterproof.
3. Depigmentation: Depigmentation is used to treat widespread areas affected by vitiligo. The skin color of the unaffected areas is reduced in order to match the affected areas. It is done using topical ointments.
Vitiligo is a skin disease, the major causes of which are still to be discovered. Proper care and treatment should be taken for skin areas affected by vitiligo.

Vitiligo: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Vitiligo is a type of skin disorder. It is an autoimmune disease in which the melanin cell stops functioning or starts dying, and forms blotches on the skin. It can affect any part of the skin. It may also affect the inside of the mouth and hair.

There are many treatments available to restore the pigmentation of the skin. However, one of the most trusted and reliable treatments is described in Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, there are tons of ways available in the house. By using these remedies, one can easily and adequately treat Vitiligo without any side effects. In Ayurveda, Mustard oil is one of the most significant remedies. Mustard oil is very beneficial to heal this type of skin disease.

Know More About Mustard Oil:

Mustard oil is extracted from the mustard seed by the process of steam distillation. The connotations of this oil may vary depending upon the part of the world the mustard seed is coming from. In some countries, mustard oil is only used for massage purposes. However, in many countries, it is considered edible. In both cases, mustard oil has millions of medicinal values and health benefits.  

Nutritional Value of Mustard Oil:

Mustard oil is packed with all the nutrients of the mustard seed. In 1 litre of mustard oil, there are 844 calories. Mustard oil has a total fat content of 100 grams which includes 21 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, and 59 grams monounsaturated fat. It has zero content of sodium, carbohydrates, and protein. It also contains some important fatty acids such as  linoleic, oleic, and erucic acid along with some important substance called Allyl isothiocyanate, that has several health benefits.

Benefits of Mustard Oil:

There are many health and medicinal benefits of mustard oil. Some of them are:

Mustard essential oil improves blood circulation.

Mustard oil helps in digestion by keeping the digestive system intact.

Mustard oil boosts appetite and makes a person feel full.

Mustard essential oils fight bacterial infections.

Mustard essential oils prevent fungal infections.

Mustard oil repels insects.

Mustard oil is good for hair.

It is also beneficial for many orthopaedic problems like arthritis, lumbar pain, cervical pain, vertigo, etc.

Mustard is also used for the treatment of Vitiligo.

How Is Mustard Oil Used To Treat Vitiligo?

Mustard oil is one of the most popular home remedies used to heal Vitiligo. It helps in producing intense melanoid pigments and one can observe pigment initiation within 10 days. Regular use of mustard oil in food, massaging, or in the form paste will help to treat this skin disorder.

According to a recent study, mustard or mustard oil has enormous therapeutic potential for treating Vitiligo. Paste of mustard oil and turmeric will help intensify the pigments of the skin.  

Take Away:

There are many home remedies available used to cure Vitiligo and mustard oil is one such ingredient. It is the most popular and scientifically proven method for the treatment of Vitiligo. However, it is best to consult a dermatologist or physician before opting for any of these remedies. Everyone s skin and internal function is different and hence it is better to always go for the options which are prescribed for better and safe result.

How Is Mustard Oil Beneficial In Vitiligo Treatment?

Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes loss of pigmentation of the skin. Melanocytes, the pigment cells, within the skin are destroyed. This causes these parts of the skin to lose color and turn pale. It might affect different parts of the body including the arms, legs, face and even genitalia. It can affect a person of any age, ethnicity or gender.

Causes
The exact cause of vitiligo is not definitively known. However, there are a number of risk factors that might contribute towards the condition. These include-

Autoimmune disorders- Vitiligo might be a result of an autoimmune disorder where the overactive immune system destroys the pigment cells of the skin.
Exposure to Chemicals- Exposure to certain chemicals can increase the risk of vitiligo by causing depigmentation.
Hereditary factors- There might be a genetic pre-disposition towards vitiligo. Though a person can exhibit symptoms of the condition at any age, it is most commonly found to manifest itself around the age of 20 years.
Symptoms
Vitiligo may start with a simple spot of pale skin but over time, this spot expands and turns paler until it is white in color. Irregular in shape, the edges of these spots may inflame and cause itchiness.

Treatment
The treatment of vitiligo will be determined by a number of factors such as the number and the extent of the white patches and where they are located. Vitiligo treatment includes cosmetic, medical and surgical methods.

Cosmetic Treatment- Cosmetic and skincare products such as sunscreens, dye or makeup can help relieve and hide signs of the condition.
Medical Treatment- Oral medication or medicated ointments may be prescribed to treat Vitiligo. Photochemotherapy which involves the use of PUVA rays to induce re-pigmentation may also be prescribed. If the condition has spread to a considerable extent then the physician might advise that the color from the remaining areas of the skin also be removed in order to match the affected areas.
Surgical Treatment- Surgical treatments are at times prescribed which involve skin grafting or tattooing. This is usually prescribed for those with small patches of affected areas.
With ongoing and extensive research being conducted on this skin condition, we will in the near future be able to both understand and treat it better.

Vitiligo - What Causes It and How Can It Be Treated?

Vitiligo is a disorder in which the skin starts losing its original color in the form of unequal shapes and sizes. This problem of skin pigmentation means that the melanocytes in the skin get damaged. This leads to the development of the white patches on the skin.

The hairs which grow on the affected area start losing their color and become gray. This problem also causes psychological disorders which related to appearance and many times, the adolescent's high dose of medications if this disorder develops in the visible areas like face, hands, arms or the feet. The adolescents start feeling embarrassed, depressed and worried about what the others might think of them and how they would react to seeing them.

Causes

Though the exact causes of vitiligo are not clear, the researchers assume that this disorder is just like an autoimmune disorder. This means that the pigmentation or the element which gives color to the skin get destroyed by the antibodies of the person s own body.

In some cases, it has also been observed that the initial stage of this disorder relates to an event which causes psychological stress to the person. People whose parents or other family members suffer from this disease are also likely to suffer from the same. This can be said that this disorder passes down the genes from generation to generation.

If people have suffered sunburns, rashes and other disorders related to the skin where the hair turns gray before the person turns thirty-five, are also some of the causes of this disease.

Role of homeopathy in treating Vitiligo

Homeopathy aims at treating the problem from the root, over a period of time yet in an effective manner. This field of medicine works at building the immunity of the patients and restore their health. As per homeopathy, it is important to understand the constitution of the patient before prescribing any type of medicine. Also, homeopathic medicines prescribed to an individual are related more to the constitution of the individual, the symptoms it is indicating and the overall psyche of the patient. 

Further, it is required that the formation of the melanin in the body is improved, in order to treat the problem. Since all patients are different, thus they respond differently to the treatment provided. And, the course of the treatment can only be decided once the underlying root cause is determined. Homeopathy treatment goes beyond the general and medicinal aspects of the vitiligo treatment. 

All these medicines listed above are only suggestive in nature and can change with the change in symptoms. Therefore one should only take homeopathic medicines as prescribed by the doctor. 

Vitiligo - Know Why Homeopathy Is The Best Choice Of Treatment!

Vitiligo or White patches is medically referred as Leucoderma. It is a disease that causes loss of skin colour resulting in white patches. It can affect the skin on any part of the human body. It occurs when the melanin-forming cells called melanocytes which produce melanin die or stop functioning. The condition is not life threatening or contagious, but it is stressful and makes one feel bad about oneself.

The main sign of vitiligo is loss of skin pigment which produces light or white patches on skin. The discoloration is first visible on sun exposed areas like the hands, feet, arms, face and lips. It can also be coupled with premature greying of hair below the age of mid-thirties, colour loss of retina and inner lining of the mouth.

Vitiligo has no cure, but homeopathic treatment help to stop or slow the process of colour loss and brings back some colour to skin. The failure of melanocytes can be attributed to disorder in which immune system attacks and destroys them. It can also be triggered by sunburn, stress or exposure to industrial chemicals. People with vitiligo are at risk of Social or psychological distress, loss of hearing, sunburn and skin cancer, inflammation of the iris and dry skin.

Homoeopathic treatment enhances the natural production of pigments and Vitiligo is considered as a manifestation of an inner disturbed state of the body. The patient is analysed on mental, physical and familial attributes. The medication is then based the results. Arsenic Sulph Falvus, Arsenic Album, Baryta Mur and Baryta Carb are known to give good results in Vitiligo. Vitiligo is a chronic disorder and it takes a long time even with the best of the homoeopathic treatment.

Calcarea Carb is prescribed to patients of Vitiligo with milky white spots on skin. It is prescribed to free perspiration over the head, neck and chest and persons with intolerance to cold weather.
Arsenic Album is useful remedy for vitiligo in persons prone to dry, rough skin. The skin complaint coupled with asthma is a strong contender for using homeopathic medicine Arsenic Album.
Sepia is prescribed for vitiligo in persons showing unresponsive attitude towards family and life
Silicea is prescribed for vitiligo in patients with pale and waxy skin, tendency to excessive perspiration. If the main mind symptom are timidity and an under-confident nature, then Silicea is a good choice. It is known to work on patients who seem under-confident, fear public speaking.
Sulphur is considered the best for vitiligo treatment as it goes deep inside the basic root cause to exterminate the disease. The persons requiring homeopathic medicine Sulphur show a mind constantly occupied with various theories and plans due to which they suffer from mental fatigue and absent mindedness.

Homeopathic Medicine for Vitiligo or White Patches Treatment

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