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Vitiligo causes and remedies
A friend of mine has Vitiligo and has to cover up completely during the summer using total sun block. She finds this distressing, not least because other people stare and youngsters make rude comments. Can you tell me what causes this condition and recommend any alternative remedies?
Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterised by the progressive widening of an area of de-pigmented (white) skin. A relatively rare disorder, it is caused by the destruction of melanocytes, the cells that produce the melanin pigment which darken the skin and is thought to affect up to 4% of the world’s population. One theory is that it is an autoimmune disease. Others suggest nutritional deficiencies or a fungal infection may be the root cause.
Anecdotal evidence points to the herb St John’s Wort which, while more often used as a mild antidepressant, makes the skin more sensitive to light. If your friend decides to try it, she must avoid red wine, cheese and yeast and consult a qualified herbalist to determine the correct dose. Another herb called Khella has been found to help with vitiligo but again, it can have unpleasant side-effects, including nausea and insomnia, so take advice before self-prescribing.
On the nutritional front, studies of people suffering from this condition have shown low levels of folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin C. A treatment plan which included high doses of folic acid or vitamin B8 (1-10mg a day), plus 1g of vitamin C daily and intramuscular injections of vitamin B12 (1,000mcg every two weeks) produced a marked re-pigmentation in a small number of sufferers who stuck with this programme for several months.
Jane Waters, holistic skin therapist and co-founder of The Alternative Centre (0207-385 9848) which specialises in treating skin conditions says, in her clinical experience, there is usually a link with a fungal yeast infection which thrives on refined and artificial sugars.
Peanuts and peanut oil will exacerbate the problem and your friend needs to check food labels since the words vegetable oil often mask a peanut and other vegetable oil mix. Waters also suggests, if your friend can face it, she stops using the sun block while she adopts a more holistic approach to clearing any underlying yeast infection. She promises that while the skin’s reaction to the sun will be extreme this summer, once the cause has been tackled, then by next summer, pigmentation will have evened out.
*Contact the National Institute of Medical Herbalists on 01392-426022