You may have seen people with irregular patches of white skin on their faces, arms or legs. In some cases, the white areas are large and noticeable. In others, they are small and less evident. The skin condition is called vitiligo. Medical researchers do not know the cause of it, and there is no cure, but there are treatments available that help some patients.
About Vitiligo
Vitiligo affects up to 1 percent of the population of the United States. The disease appears equally in men and women and across all ages and races. Researchers have not found a cure, and there is no clear understanding of the cause. Those with the condition develop irregular white spots all over their bodies. The spots can be small, large or in between. The spots occur because of destruction of the pigment melanin and the patient's inability to produce replacement melanin. Researchers have not yet determined the cause of this lack of ability to replace melanin.
Diet
Based on his organization's clinical observation of more than 4,500 vitiligo patients, Dr. Rajesh Shah, a doctor of homeopathic medicine, recommends that those with the disease avoid certain foods. Vitiligo patients should strike foods from their diet that are excessively sour. This group includes citrus fruits because vitamin C, he states, inhibits the production of melanin. Those with vitiligo should also avoid fish because any mercury content aggravates the vitiligo in some patients. Vitiligo patients should adopt a vegetarian diet. Shah concedes the lack of scientific evidence to back up his position but reminds any critics that he bases his conclusions on extensive clinical observations.
Treatment
Dermatology has two approaches to vitiligo treatment: repigmentation and depigmentation -- restoring the missing melanin or taking it all out. Dermatologists decide on the course of treatment according to the extent of the vitiligo. If a patient has vitiligo over half of his body, the doctor will probably elect depigmentation. In repigmentation, the process involves moving cells from the hair follicles near the lesion. In some cases, hydrocortisone compounds can slow depigmentation. Sometimes, physicians will employ phototherapy -- with UV-B light, psoralen plus UV-A, or excimer laser. Depigmenting the remaining pigmented skin calls for treatment with a drug -- monobenzylether of hydroquinone. The treatment has been successful but with occasional reappearance of some patchy pigmentation.
Quality of Life
Vitiligo patients often encounter self-esteem issues because of their appearance. People with the condition are subject to unwelcome stares and even verbal abuse. Physicians and other professionals who work with vitiligo patients should address this aspect of the disease in treatment programs, possibly by joining forces with qualified psychotherapists. If you are concerned about unexplained white patches on your skin and think you may have vitiligo, make an appointment with a dermatologist and request an examination.
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