What is Vitiligo? What are Vitiligo symptoms? Is there any cure? What foods, supplements and treatment options are available for Vitiligo?

Hi, I am Beth Childs, a Vitiligo survivor. After being diagnosed with Vitiligo, I have spent several years in researching, reading, and experimenting with various foods, supplements, and treatment options.

This blog is about my experiences of Vitiligo, and how I managed to control it.

Read on, and share your feedback!

What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a skin condition in which there is a loss of brown color (pigment) from areas of skin, resulting in irregular white patches, that feel like normal skin. Vitiligo treatment is not impossible and the color spots can be diminished with proper medication and diet.

What causes Vitiligo (Skin De-pigmentation)?

Research tells us that over 1% of the people in the world face severe de-pigmentation on their skin that result in loose patches of discoloration on their body. Even though, vitiligo is not a life threatening condition but people suffering from it have to fight a great deal emotionally. Patients often feel a decline in their quality of life and tend to stoop into depression very quickly.

Despite of extensive on-going research, any particular cause behind the occurrence of Vitiligo cannot be highlighted but it is generally perceived as an autoimmune disease; which means that a person’s body accidentally attacks its own system misinterpreting it as an antibody. This results in the death of pigment producing cells which cause the appearance of milky-white patches on the surface of the skin. However, the positive aspect is that this condition is treatable and several successful procedures are being carried out by specialists around the world.

Before getting into the causes of Vitiligo, it’s important to know what this disease is all about. So the basic questions are, ‘What is Vitiligo?’ and ‘What causes it?’

Vitiligo is a medical condition that results in patches of discoloration on the skin due to the loss of melanin in a person’s body. Melanin is a pigment produced by melanocytes; Cells which are responsible for the color of the skin along with protecting it from the harmful rays of direct sunlight.

Due to unknown reasons, these cells either die or become dysfunctional rendering various areas of the body discolored and giving rise to ‘Vitiligo’. It’s safe to say that this condition does not have harmful effects’ on a person’s general health or physical life but it may take its toll psychologically.

Even after years of continuing research and examinations, the root cause of Vitiligo is unknown. However, a majority of medical experts stand unanimous on categorizing it as an autoimmune disorder. The autoimmune system in a one’s body is responsible for fighting against germs and other harmful antibodies. However, in some cases, this system gets fooled into believing that other organs or cells of the body are harmful and thus, it fights against them resulting in conditions like Vitiligo, lupus, Addison disease, psoriasis and various other autoimmune diseases. Some research suggests that apart from autoimmune, this disorder may arise from genetics, oxidative stress, neural or viral causes.

Other researchers believe that the melanocytes destroy themselves while some think that a strong sunburn or emotional distress can cause Vitiligo. However, these conditions are not substantial reasons for the disorder.

Is Vitiligo common and contagious?

People are generally not comfortable in greeting Vitiligo patients with gestures that involve physical interaction such as shaking hands. But these fears are totally unnecessary. Touching someone who is suffering from this disorder will not put someone to any risk of acquiring it. Such behavior may however result in lowering the self esteem of these patients. Read more to learn if Vitiligo is common and contagious.

Vitiligo Symptoms and Growth Patterns

Like any other disease, Vitiligo has certain symptoms and telltale signs that should alert patients and their physicians. Some of the symptoms and signs of vitiligo are:

1. Sudden discoloration in any part of the body leaving milky white patches on the skin.
2. Premature whitening of scalp hair, eyebrows & eyelids and beards.
3. Loss of color in the tissues inside ones’ mouth or inner layer of the eyes.

More about Vitiligo symptoms and growth patterns.

Vitiligo Diagnosis and Treatment

If someone finds the occurrence of the above mentioned symptoms, they should hurriedly consult a dermatologist for a thorough medical checkup. The doctor may ask a set of questions to understand the patients’ history, habits, lifestyle and the possibility of Vitiligo within family or relatives.

The doctor will then proceed to physically examine the areas where de-pigmentation has been occurred in order to exclude any other possible skin problems. In some cases, doctors refer to some blood tests and eye examinations along with biopsy to ensure apt diagnosis. Read more about Vitiligo diagnosis and treatment.

Black pepper is also used for Vitiligo Treatment.

Life of a Vitiligo patient

Dealing with Vitiligo can become extremely difficult since the effects of it can be evidently seen on one’s body. Living in a world where beauty & looks are only limited to the superficial levels of a person, patients dealing with Vitiligo often feel left out & humiliated in public gatherings. Normal people tend to turn their backs from such people either in fear of getting infected themselves or because it does not meet their ‘criteria’. This brings a great deal of suffering and depression to a patient who is already fighting with the disease on a daily basis. Read more about life of a patient with Vitiligo

Vitiligo in Dogs

Vitiligo is a condition that can affect both humans and animals, including dogs. It causes the loss of pigment in the skin, fur, or coat, resulting in patches of white or light-colored skin.

If you think your dog may have vitiligo, it is important to speak to your veterinarian so they can rule out any other potential causes and start your dog on the appropriate treatment plan. Read more about Vitiligo in dogs here.

More about Vitiligo Treatment:

• 
  Top skin dyes for Vitiligo treatment
  If you suffer from Vitiligo, you know how difficult it can be to find the right skin dye. The good news is that there are… Read more: Top skin dyes for Vitiligo treatment
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  Psychological aspects of dealing with Vitiligo
  Vitiligo spots are fairly noticeable, especially if they appear on exposed areas like the face, hands, arms or feet. Anyone suffering from the condition may… Read more: Psychological aspects of dealing with Vitiligo
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  Link between Vitiligo and Stress
  Medical research has proved that there is a strong relationship between Vitiligo and stress. According to Dr. Esther Sternberg, MD, Director of the Integrative Neural… Read more: Link between Vitiligo and Stress
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  Can Vitiligo patients eat eggs? Vitiligo Diet Recommendations
  One of the most common questions among vitiligo patients is can Vitiligo patients eat eggs? While some dietitians might advise against eggs due to their… Read more: Can Vitiligo patients eat eggs? Vitiligo Diet Recommendations
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  Using Wood’s Lamp to detect Vitiligo
  A Wood’s lamp examination is a test that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to look at the skin closely. Woods light can be used to detect… Read more: Using Wood’s Lamp to detect Vitiligo