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.

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.