Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes white spots to form on the skin. This condition can begin on any part of the body and stay confined to that area or spread to other areas. This condition has several treatment methods ranging from taking herbal supplements to UVA treatments and surgical therapy. Acupuncture also can treat some cases of vitiligo.
Identification
Vitiligo is the loss of color from the skin. This condition is caused by the immune system sending cells to destroy melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that are responsible for producing pigment in the skin. Vitiligo could be the result of autoimmune disorders, although the exact causes is unknown. Vitiligo can occur at any age, and this medical condition affects one in every 100 people in the United States, according to PubMed Health.
Symptoms
Symptoms of vitiligo can appear suddenly or over time. Vitiligo causes patches of lighter skin or white spots to form on your face, elbows, knees, hands, feet and genitals, although the patches can appear anywhere. Although these lighter patches are more visible on darker-skinned people, light-skinned people also can be affected by this condition.
Acupuncture for Vitiligo
The treatment for vitiligo depends on the severity of the condition. Mild cases of vitiligo may go away without treatment, or your physician may prescribe corticosteroids creams, immunosuppressant creams or topical drugs. In severe cases, some people may opt for skin grafts or a surgical procedure that depigments skin on the rest of the body. Alternative treatments also are used in the treatment of vitiligo. According to the natural healing website Veria, acupuncture has shown to be helpful in treating some cases of vitiligo. Acupuncture also can be helpful in treating the stress felt by people who have severe cases of vitiligo.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a Chinese system of medicine that uses needles inserted into specific points on the body to treat and prevent medical conditions and stress. During an acupuncture session, you lie still as the acupuncturist inserts tiny needles just under your skin. The needles remain in these areas anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes, after which they are removed. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that, although studies have proven acupuncture to be helpful in treating several conditions, the effects of acupuncture are complex and how accupuncture works isn’t entirely clear.
