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VITILIGO
(LEUCODERMA) |
Vitiligo
is a skin pigment disorder that effects around one
percent (40 – 50 million) of the world’s
population. In Vitiligo, the cells
(melanocytes) within the skin that control the production of the
pigment
melanin are destroyed resulting in white patches of skin.
Patches also appear on the tissues that line
the inside of the mouth, nose and private areas, as well as the retina
of the
eye. White hairs also develop in these affected areas.
Causes of
Vitiligo
What causes Vitiligo is not really know and theories abound
as to why it happens. It is thought that
is an autoimmune disorder in which people with vitiligo develop
antibodies,
which end up turning on the melanocytes. Other experts believe that the
melanocyte skin cells destroy themselves.
Most experts think that this rare skin disorder is an
inherited trait, but some who suffer from the disease have reported
singular
events such as severe sunburn or an extremely stressful event as the
root
cause. Researchers have dismissed these events as mere coincidence and
believe
that three different genes make people susceptible to this disorder.
Who is
affected?
40 to 50 million people worldwide suffer from Vitiligo,
making up around 1 percent of the worlds population. In the US, 2-5
million
people are thought to suffer from the disease.
Vitiligo affects both men and women equally, and 95 percent of those
who
suffer from it are under the age of 40.
People who suffer from certain autoimmune diseases seem more
likely to suffer from vitilgo. These
diseases include hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), adrenocortical
insufficiency (adrenal gland is not producing enough corticosteroid),
alopecia
areata (bald patches), and pernicious anemia (low red blood cell levels
due to
B12 deficiency.
Vitiligo and
genetics
While children who have parents who suffer from Vitiligo are
more likely to get it themselves, most people with the disorder do not
have a
family history of it. There are a large number of inherited disorders
that are
related to melanocyte problems including ocular albinism, kabuki
syndrome, and
premature graying showing that a disorder like Vitiligo can very well
be a
genetic problem.
Symptoms
White patches of skin are the most common symptom of
Vitiligo. These patches appear on sun-exposed areas such as hands,
arms, face
and lips. They can also form around the armpits, groin, mouth, eyes,
nostrils,
and navel.
Vitilgo
appear in three distinct patterns:
- Focal
pattern: depigmentation limited to one or two areas
- Segmented
pattern: white patches develop on only one side of the body
- Generalized
pattern: white patches occur on different parts all over the body.
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Few Tips |
You should see an
endocrinologist because people with vitiligo often have problems with
their thyroid gland and in some cases ultraviolet rays are not
recommended (you should not lie out in the sun trying to even your skin
color). Also, many people with vitiligo have problems with their liver.
Sometimes all you need to do is to treat your weak/sick liver and the
white patches will be gone.
If
you are over 40 and you noticed the white spots for the first time, see
a dermatologist. Do not try to treat it yourself. There is a very good
chance that this is not vitiligo, but a different kind of dermatosis
that looks like it. Genuine vitiligo usually appears at the age range
of 19-40 years old.
Cleansing of the body with a special attention to the liver and bowels
often helps to get rid of vitiligo. But be careful, If you've never
paid attention to your health and decided to cleanse your body, you may
provoke an intensification of all chronic disorders that you already
have. In
this case start from a diet, quitting alcohol and smoking and start
doing physical
exercises. You should cleanse your body only under your doctor's
supervision.
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Remedies For Vitiligo |
 The best
herb to treat vitiligo is lemna
minor (wild duckweed).
In the summer get Lemna minor, wash it and grind it. Mix 1 part lemna
with 1 part honey and drink 1 tea spoon of the mix twice a day 1 hour
after meals.
At the same time rub fresh lemna juice in the white spots 5-6 times a
day.
You can prepare a Lemna tincture for the
fall and winter time: take 4 tablespoons of
lemna, add 1/2 L of vodka, leave it in a dark warm place for 7 days and
filter it. Mix 15-30 drops of the tincture with 2 tablespoons of water
and drink the mix twice a day 30 minutes before meals.
You can try
to rub into the white spots a few times a day:
- Castor oil
- St. John wort alcohol tincture
- melon pulp
- strong black tea (take 1 teaspoon of loose black tea, add 1/4 cup of
boiling water, boil it for 2-3 minutes, filter it and let it cool. You
can keep it in youir refrigerator for 2 days. Shake before using it).
- parsnip root juice
Take a half
of a fig and rub the white spots with it.
Prepare the following salve: take 100 of Vaselin and add 5 g of aspirin
(if you use pills, crush them thoroughly). Rub the salve in
the
white spots and lie out in the sun. The color of your skin should
become even in about 10 days. Be careful and try not to get a
sunburn. (I know that some people got great results using this remedy,
but I'd personally try it on a small spot for the beginning.)
Add fresh rhubarb juice to a body lotion or Vaselin and rub it
in the white patches twice a day.
Additionally to topical creams, it is highly recommended to drink
St.John wort extract for at least 4-6 months. Take 1 tablespoon of St.John wort leaves and flowers,
add 1 cup (8 oz) of boiling water, let it sit for 30 minutes and filter
it. Take 1 tablespoon of the extract 3 times a day after meals (1
teaspoon of the extract for children).Take 1 week break every 3 weeks.
Rub the extract in the white patches twice a day.
St.John wort herb increases your photosensitivity - your skin
sensitivity to sunlight/ultraviolet rays. It is one of the best herbs
to be taken internally and externally, if you have vitiligo. You should
use it only as a waterbased extract or an alcohol tincture, but do not
use it in an oil base.
Mix 1 part St. John's wort herb, 1 part oregano herb, 1 part calendula
flowers and 1 part chamomile flowers. Every morning take 1 teaspoon of
the mix, add 1 cup of boiling water and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
Take 1/2 cup of the extract twice a day during meals. The treatment is
for 1 month. This extract will help to increase your photosensitivity.
Take 50 g of roots of Red
Geranium plant (the roots can be either fresh or dry), add 1 L of
boiling water and let it sit for 4 hours. Strain it and add the whole
amount to a bath tub filled with warm water (35-36 C). Take a bath for
15-20 minutes before you go to bed. The treatment is for 12-14 days
(12-14 baths)
All remedies above have been tested by people with vitiligo and gave
great results, but you should still remember that sometimes things do
not work the same for different people. You can just give it a try.
Of course, do not forget to consult your doctor before you do
anything.
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Products For Vitiligo |
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| HEALTH TIP |
| You
should take supplements with copper, iron, B vitamin group, calcium
and amino acid thyrosine (read more
information about it on Wikipedia, opens in a new window). |
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| BEAUTY TIP |
Do
not leave your house without applying special creams for vitiligo or
any cream that has one of the herbs increasing photosensitivy, like
calendula, St. John's wort herb and oregano herb.
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