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 condition in which white patches appear on the skin. It can affect any part of the body. It can affect the inside of the mouth and the hair as well. It happens when the skin cells (melanocytes) that make or produce pigment (colour) of the skin die or stop functioning. This disease is not contagious or life-threatening, it cannot be caught from another person having vitiligo. All types of skin can be affected by vitiligo but it may be more evident in people with darker skin. It develops between the ages 10 to 30 and it often appears before the age of 40.

Causes

The main cause of this disorder is still not clear, why the cells die or fail. For some reason, the colour or pigment-forming cells called melanocytes dies. However, these are the following reasons that can cause this problem:

An autoimmune disorder, where the defences of the body turn on their own cells instead of attacking the germs that destroyed the melanocytes

A trigger or stressful events such as exposure to industrial chemicals, stress, or sunburn

Family history (heredity)

A neural cause

A virus

A genetic oxidative stress imbalance

Symptoms

The one and only symptom of this condition is the appearance of white patches or flat white spots on the skin. Those white patches are irregular in shape. They may stay the same for a while but may get bigger with time on different parts of the body. It generally affects body folds such as armpits, around body openings, or around moles. It can also affect hair and eyelids. It does not cause any irritation, dryness, discomfort, or soreness in the skin.

Treatment

There is no known way to cure or prevent the condition but the appearance of the affected skin can be improved with corticosteroid creams and cosmetics. The doctor can recommend melanocyte transplant surgery which includes a new needling micro-grafting technique. The surgery includes a split-thickness skin graft that is taken from the normal area. Later, it is cut into very small pieces in diameter ranging from 0.1 mm-0.3 mm. The local anesthesia is given to the recipient area to implant the micro-grafts into the dermis by using the needling technique. This new method of treating this condition delivers satisfactory and rapid pigmentation.

Takeaway

Vitiligo is a disorder in which flat white spots or patches appear and can affect any area of the body. It happens when the melanocytes die or stop functioning. The condition can be managed by cosmetics, corticosteroid creams, therapies, and surgeries. Out of all these methods, melanocyte transplant surgery is a new and effective technique to manage this disease. However, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before opting for any of these methods. 

Vitiligo - Its Causes, Symptoms And Treatments!

Vitiligo is a long term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment. The patches of skin affected become white and usually have sharp margins. The hair from the skin may also become white. Although this disease is not life threatening or contagious, the disfigurement of vitiligo can be devastating to its sufferers, especially the ones with darker skin tone.

There are certain treatment options that can help.

Topical preparations of immune suppressing medications, creams and steroids are considered to be first-line vitiligo treatments.
Next option is to expose the affected skin to UVB lamps with the phototherapy treatment at home or get the Ultra violet (UVA) treatment at a hospital.
In extreme cases of extensive vitiligo the option to de-pigment the unaffected skin may be considered to render the skin an even colour.
However, in mild cases, vitiligo patches can be hidden with makeup or other cosmetic camouflage solutions. If the affected person is pale skinned, the patches can be made less visible by avoiding tanning of the unaffected skin.
Camouflage Treatment In Vitiligo
Camouflage is derived from the French word,  Camoufler  which means  to blind  or  veil . Also known as protective concealment, it means to disguise an object in plain view, for the purpose of concealing it from something or someone. Cosmetic camouflage is the application of make-up creams and/or powders to conceal color or contour irregularities or abnormalities of the face or body. It was pioneered during the Second World War to help pilots who were badly burnt by making use of plastic surgery and camouflage cream. These creams did not camouflage the person but were used to conceal blemishes on the skin so that they were not obvious. This kind of remedial cosmetic skin camouflage is defined as being the  the art of concealing a discoloration, blemish or scar with the application of specialist camouflage creams that are matched to the surrounding skin tone.  Nowadays, it is used to conceal abnormalities from various dermatological disorders, especially vitiligo.

Types of Camouflage
Camouflage may be permanent or temporary.

Remedial cosmetic cover creams help conceal the blemish of vitiligo at least temporarily. A high concentration of pigment is incorporated into water free or anhydrous foundations to give a color that matches the patient s skin, thereby concealing vitiligo patches.
Permanent camouflage is obtained with a cosmetic tattoo. Unlike pigments used for ritual or symbolic tattoos, cosmetic tattoos are inert iron oxides that are available in more than 15 shades. The color is implanted into the dermal layer with specialized techniques and cannot be washed off.
Camouflage improves the appearance of the individual, as the focus is no longer on the discoloration that the person wishes to hide, thereby improving their confidence and self-esteem. This makes camouflage the most popular treatment option in vitilgo.

Camouflage Treatment In Vitiligo!

Vitiligo or Leucoderma is an autoimmune disease. In this type of disease, cells (melanin) that are responsible for skin pigmentation are destroyed, attacked, hence stop functioning, which results in irregular white patches on skin. Vitiligo can affect any part of the body and skin type. Vitiligo is not at all life-threatening, but it can be visible by other people easily.

There are a number of treatment options available for Vitiligo. However, by changing dietary and lifestyle choices, one can prevent the worsening and recurrence of the condition.

Home Remedies That Will Help to Treat Vitiligo Effectively:

There are many treatment options available to treat Vitiligo including creams, oral medicines, skin grafting, ultraviolet treatment, etc. However, these treatments totally depend upon the condition and response of the skin cells. These treatments might have some sort of side effects or risks. This is why one of the most effective ways to treat Vitiligo or Leucoderma is by using home remedies. Here are some of the common and effective home remedies used to treat this skin disease without any side effects:

Paste of Mustard Oil and Turmeric:

Turmeric has a lot of medicinal benefits and is also used effectively for the treatment of Vitiligo. One can lower the effects of Vitiligo by using turmeric. Take one tablespoon of turmeric powder with 2 tablespoons of mustard oil and mix them well to make a thick paste. Apply this paste on the affected area, leave for at least 15 minutes, and then wash it off. For better results, apply this paste twice a day.

Honey and Margosa Leaves:

Another amazing home remedy that can do wonders in this skin disorder treatment is the use of honey and margosa leaves. Take one tablespoon of honey juice and mix it well with a few crushed margosa leaves. Have this concoction to get rid of Vitiligo.

Bakuchi Paste:

To prepare Bakuchi paste, one needs Bakuchi (Psoralea carylifolia) and vinegar. Mix them well to make a thick paste and apply it over the white blotches and patches. This is also one of the most popular remedies to treat Vitiligo.

Ginger Juice:

Since ancient times, ginger is used as a medicine for the treatment of many diseases. One such disease is Vitiligo. Ginger is very much effective for the treatment of white patches. To make this home remedy, take a piece of ginger and blend it with water to make a thin liquid. Pour this juice in a cup with the help of a strainer. Drink this juice twice a day to heal Vitiligo.

Ghee and Pepper:

This is another most effective home remedy used to treat Vitiligo. For this remedy, heat 10 pepper in 10 gm of ghee. Remove the pepper and mix this ghee with normal ghee. One can use this ghee while cooking daily food. Regular consumption of this ghee will purify the blood and improve immunity.  

Final Words:

There are other home remedies available to treat this skin disorder like neem paste, tamarind seed paste, pomegranate powder, goosefoot vegetable juice, black gram paste, etc. However, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before opting for any of these remedies. The condition may vary from patient to patient; this is why consulting a physician is always a great idea.

5 Best Home Remedies To Treat Vitiligo Diseases

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

Vitiligo or Leucoderma is a genetic disorder triggered due to mental stress and constipation. Leucoderma or vitiligo is called Shivita kushta according to Ayurveda and is caused due to defect in brajak pitta. Brajak pitta is a color forming agent in body and defect in formation of brajak pitta causes vitiligo. There are many causes, which can trigger vitiligo other than stress and genetics.

There are certain food combinations , such as taking milk and sour fruits together can trigger vitiligo. Also, using excessive salty food and meat products with milk can trigger disease. Deficiency of copper and vitamin B12 can trigger this disease. So treatment of vitiligo is done taking in account many factors.

Toxins produced in body are neutralized using herbal medicines, which helps in stopping the spread of disease. External herbal application containing Wrightia Tinctoria help in repigmentation on white skin. According to modern science steroids are used in pulse therapy where steroids are used 2 times a week.

This also prevents the disease from spreading. In some severe cases integration of allopathic and Ayurveda is key to success.

There are few important points, which vitiligo patients should always take in account, such as:
When disease is spreading sitting in sun for prolonged period can trigger the spread.
Using Brinjal and raw tomatoes and excess of vitamin C is not good.
Irregular lifestyle is a trigger the disease along with consumption of alcohol.

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