Vitiligo

What is Vitiligo?

• Vitiligo is a disease of skin pigments called melanin. It is a disease where there is a loss of skinpigment or color, which could be due to various reasons. Vitiligo affects about 2% of worldpopulation and close to 8% of Indian and Mexican population. Vitiligo is not a serious disease,medically speaking. It has more social significance than medical importance, as it does not causeany major harm to the body. Cosmetically and personally, it can affect lives of the suffers especiallyin those society, where color of skin is given importance; specially among brown and dark skinpeople.

• In simple words, vitiligo is caused by one or two of the following processes:

1. Melanin cell destruction, leading to loss of color on skin, leading to white patches of vitiligo.

2. Defective process of melanin formation, hence, no skin color formation

• The exact cause for above processes remain unknown. There are some theories which areconsidered responsible for the above processes in vitiligo.

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Causes of Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a disease of which the exact cause is not fully understood. However, there is increasing understandingabout the processes involved in the development of Vitiligo. In most cases there are multiple causes responsiblefor vitiligo. However, there are theories suggesting

1. Autoimmune links: The cells fighting among themselves leading to destruction of the melanin, is one of thereasons. There are other immunological factors as well. One of the studies has suggested role of someneuropeptide (NYP) which may damage melanin. Such neuropeptide may be released in response to skininjury or emotional stress; again suggesting a combination of causative factors.

2. Hormonal connections: Affection of certain hormones such as Thyroid hormones or Melanocyte Stimulatinghormone may be responsible for vitiligo. Also, simultaneous occurrence of vitiligo and other hormonaldisorder suggest underlying genetic factor.

3. Genetic tendencies

4. Neural theory

5. Autocytotoxic theory: As per this theory, there is self-destruction of melanocytes and hence the melanin.This could be a result of genetic, immunological, neural or stress factors.

There are factors, internal and external, which either predispose or trigger or maintain the process which leads todevelopment of vitiligo. In most cases, more there may be a mix of causes.

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Symptoms of Vitiligo

• The typical symptom of Vitiligo is a milky white de-pigmented spot or spots. It may vary from a singlewhite spot to multiple spots. The shape too is a variable; round or irregular in shape. In some casesgeneralized de-pigmentation observed all over the body. It has a tendency to start as a single spot andgradually grow in size and number. It may present with a single or several spots on limbs or abdomenor back and then spreading to other parts of the body. In some of the vitiligo patches the hair mayturn grey suggesting of loss of melanin pigment at the roots.

• In some cases showing affection of the muco-cutaneous junctions such as finger-tips, corners of themouth, genital, around eyes. The spread of the disorder is usually slow and progressive. Symmetricalappearance on both the sides of the body (say, on the legs, hands, etc.) is common. In rare cases onefinds vitiligo spreading all over the body. It is a common concern among the patients if the diseasewould spread to entire body; which happens very rarely.

Treatment for Vitiligo

There are various modalities of treatment available for vitiligo underdifferent systems of medicine.

• Homeopathic treatment

• Conventional treatment

• Ayurvedic (herbal) treatment

• Surgical treatment

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Homeopathic Treatment for Vitiligo

Homeopathy offers proven treatment for the cases of vitiligo which donot have extensive spread. Early and milder cases may be treated withexcellent success, moderate and spreading cases can expect partial colorformation with good control, while rapidly spreading cases may becontrolled significantly. It may be noted that good control over the spreadis also considered a success in extensive cases.

Homeopathic treatment works in the following manner:

• Controlling the spread of Vitiligo by attempting to correct the immunesystem

• Enhancing the natural melanocyte formation (melanogenesis)

What does the Homeopathy treatment do?

The scientific and documented study shows that the homeopathic treatment helpsachieve:

1. Enhances melanocyte formation by stimulating the natural process calledmelanogenesis

2. Controls genetic disposition by using miasmatic medicines

3. Treats after effects of environmental factors such as exposure to chemicals

4. Treats aftereffects of emotional stress which may have triggered the diseaseprocess of vitiligo (Leucoderma)

5. Corrects the hormonal imbalance such as Under active thyroid (hypothyroid)

6. Helps body cope up with stress and emotional pressures

7. Individualistic approach whereby every patient is treated based on one's case

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