What are the main symptoms of vitiligo?

Condition analysis:
You'll often lose pigment quickly on several areas of your skin. After the white patches appear, they may stay the same for a while, but later on, they might get bigger. You may have cycles of pigment loss and stability. Vitiligo commonly affects body folds (such as armpits), places that have been injured in the past, and areas exposed to sun, around moles, or around body openings. It can also affect eyelids and hair.

Instructions:
Vitiligo is a genetic, autoimmune skin disorder in which a loss of skin pigmentation results in white patches on various parts of the body. Current treatments are aimed at stopping or slowing the progression of lost pigment. Manipulating one's diet may be helpful in managing certain skin conditions, such as vitiligo. People with vitiligo may need to follow a special diet to prevent the condition from worsening or to replenish any nutritional deficiencies that may occur.

Vitamin deficiencies
People with vitiligo may be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals such as B12, folic acid, and zinc, according to the Vitiligo Support International. Before taking any supplements to replenish lost nutrients, try eating foods that are rich in them. Vitamin B12 can be found in meat, dairy products, fish, and shellfish. Folate, the natural form of folic acid, can be found in fruits, dried beans and peas, and fruits. Zinc can be found in beef, shellfish, nuts, and legumes.

Repigmentation
Because vitiligo is emotionally discomforting for people with the condition, alternative treatments that aid in skin repigmentation often are sought. Supplementation with ginkgo biloba may improve repigmentation because of its free radical quenching abilities, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Another natural supplement is L-phenylalanine, an amino acid, that when combined with ultraviolet light exposure may cause repigmentation. Since these treatments are not well studied, consult with your doctor before taking either supplement.

Food to avoid
In cases where pigment loss is widespread and severe, bleaching (depigmentation) of the remaining pigmented patches may be done with hydroquinone, according to the Merck Manual Online Medical Library. Since hydroquinone also is present in some food, it may worsen the light skin patches of people with vitiligo if consumed. Blueberries, pears, wheat, and coffee all contain this natural depigmenting agent.