Home Remedies and Herbs for Vitiligo (Skin Depigmentation)

Vitiligo is a pigment disorder characterized by the loss of skin color.¹ This depigmentation will appear in blotches or patches and can affect all areas of the body, including the skin, hair, mouth, and even the eyes. Vitiligo skin depigmentation is unpredictable, so there’s no saying how fast it will develop or what areas of the body it will affect in specific individuals. With skin depigmentation disorders like vitiligo, the skin feels normal; it just doesn’t look the same as the skin around it.² 

Vitiligo is not dangerous or life-threatening, but it is a cosmetic issue, and it’s more noticeable in people with darker skin. Some individuals may experience low self-esteem or depression because of their condition.³ 

What Causes Vitiligo (Skin Depigmentation)?

Melanin is a pigment that gives your skin and hair its color. In people with vitiligo, their cells that produce melanin stop functioning or die.¹ Exact vitiligo causes are unknown, but it’s believed to be a type of autoimmune disease.² This means that the body attacks its own tissues. In the case of vitiligo, the immune system would destroy the cells--called melanocytes--that produce melanin.² Vitiligo may also be linked to genetics and may develop following a trigger like exposure to chemicals or a sunburn.⁴

Vitiligo (Skin Depigmentation) Symptoms

Vitiligo symptoms are mostly cosmetic. The main sign of vitiligo is the loss of pigment in the skin that results in white patches.⁵ These patches can appear suddenly or gradually and will have irregular but defined borders. Skin depigmentation typically starts in areas that are commonly exposed to the sun, such as the face, arms, hands, and feet.^2,5 It can also affect the genitals.

Vitiligo usually affects both sides of the body in a mostly symmetric pattern.² However, a type of skin depigmentation called segmental vitiligo only affects one side of the body and appears earlier in life.⁵ Vitiligo can affect anyone at any age, but it usually appears before the age of 20. It is rare for skin color to return to normal in vitiligo patients.⁵ 

However, some vitiligo treatments are available. Though these treatments can’t cure skin depigmentation, they can help reduce the appearance.¹ Some vitiligo herbal remedies are believed to help improve skin health, boost the immune system, or help with treating the underlying causes of vitiligo.

References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vitiligo/basics/definition/con-20032007
2. http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/vitiligo
3. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/color-problems/vitiligo
4. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vitiligo/basics/causes/con-20032007
5. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vitiligo/basics/symptoms/con-20032007