Vitiligo is a distressing skin due to gradual loss of melanocytes, the cells that are responsible for producing melanin pigment in skin layers. This results in white patches on your skin. The white spots, patches and streaks formed over the skin and even at hair are called vitiligo.
In the condition, people lose his normal pigmentation through the reduction in the melanocytes and there is no chance for the birth of pigment or melanin once the melanocytes got destroyed.
The percentage of population affected vitiligo is nearly one percent. It mostly affects the people who are having dark skin and light skin, whereas it appearance clearly in the dark color complexion people. You can find them between the ages of 10 to 30 that fall mostly in the circle of vitiligo.
Some of the common areas affected by vitiligo include skin, hands, fingers, wrists, injury surfaces, body folds and hair – the areas which are most often exposed. Vitiligo is a long terminal disease and its treatment differs based on the skin type.
In about 30 percent of cases, the re-pigmentation of skin happened by exposing the skin to the sunlight, when the skin is exposed to the sun and the melanocytes transfers from the nearby skin or from the deep of hair follicles. If the skin is in the track of re-pigmentation, there appears a small dot around the hair follicles.
Symptoms of vitiligo
Generally vitiligo starts with a small white spot and later develops into patches. They are pale in the beginning and later turn to darker due to increase in loss of melanin.
The spots get enlarge due to the merge into one another and form a broad patch. It is usually spread and slowly progressive.
Vitiligo can vary in size, shape, intensity of the color loss and in the profile of their distribution. It becomes a chronic skin condition while in other cases it may even regress on its own.
Causes of Vitiligo
- Destruction of melanocytes that results in vitiligo.
- At the same time eating fish and drinking milk. Eating pumpkin and milk at the same time. Eating onion and milk.
It can also be caused due to autoimmune disorders, hereditary factors, nervous secretion, and nutritional deficiencies, accumulation of toxic radicals.
Home remedies to treat vitiligo
Basil leaves and lime juice
Basil leaves have anti-viral and anti-aging property that is beneficial for skin problems. Prepare a paste of basil leaves with lime juice that helps to promote melanin production and is an effective home remedy for vitiligo.
Apply this juice to vitiligo thrice a day that helps to get rid of the problem within 6 months of regular usage.
Vitamins
In a study conducted by the dermatology department, skin turns re-pigmented when it is fed with Vitamin B12, folic acid and Vitamin C.
So, intake a Vitamin B-12 complex that contains about 100 milligrams of each of important B Vitamins and with a minimum amount of 400 micrograms of folic acid in everyday.
You also need to take Vitamin B-12 about 1000 milligrams and Vitamin C about 2000 milligrams for two times in a day.
Red clay
Red clay on river beds is the best remedy. It is rich in copper content that helps in re-pigmentation of the skin.
Mix the clay with ginger juice and apply it over the white spots once a day. Ginger juice in it increases blood flow to the affected spots.
Cover mark
If your skin tone is a normal one then you can opt for the cosmetic cover-up such as cover mark and dermablend.
These products used to cover up the small pigment loss areas like the face and hands. However, they fade with the day and you need to reapply for the next day.
Turmeric
Mixing turmeric with mustard oil can also benefit to cure vitiligo. Take 500 grams of turmeric and soaked in eight liters of water overnight.
The mixture should be boiled in the morning till it reduces to 1/8th the original volume. Strain the solution and mix it with 500 grams of mustard oil.
Then, the mixture is heated until only oil is left. And the that oil is applied to white patches every morning and evening to treat vitiligo.
SPF
If your skin is re-pigmented, protection must be given in the form of sunscreen. Apply a sunscreen with SPF of 30 or more than that otherwise the affected area will be affected additionally with photo-aging and sunburn.
Choose the best one that is made with zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Prefer to apply the sunscreen even you are not at out of the door, even the sunlight pinched from windows and car doors also gives you a problem.
The skin, which loss its pigment eventually loses its protective pigment, may burn easily and becomes more sensitive to develop skin cancer.
A product called Total block contains SPF of 60 along with antioxidants and protective liquid cover-up to cover and protect the affected skin in a cosmetic way.
