Dermatology

Diseases, Symptoms, tcm, [tcmwindow.com]

What are the risk factors for developing vitiligo?

Health Description
Condition analysis:
Heredity plays a role in the development of Vitiligo. People who develop the disease usually have a history of the same in their families. Certain theories believe that inflammatory gastrointestinal tract disorders have been associated with Vitiligo. Certain medications like anti-hypertensives and oral steroids which cause blood vessels to widen may also play a role. Vitiligo is predominant in females than males. Females have more hormonal imbalance and emotional stress. Although Vitiligo is more common in females, males tend to suffer from more severe symptoms.

Expert Reply

Instructions:

1. Homeopathic remedies that may be recommended for vitiligo include Alum, Natrum carbonicum, Phosphorus, Sepia, Silica, and Sulfur. The exact remedy is best chosen by a qualified homeopath.

2. Opaque cosmetic cover-ups such as Dermablend and Covermark can be exactly matched to your normal skin tone. Such products are commonly used for small areas of pigment loss, especially on the face and hands. However, they do rub off and have to be reapplied during the day.

3. Apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher on a daily basis to all depigmented spots to protect the affected skin from sunburn and photoaging. A sunblock containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is preferable. Do this even if you do not anticipate being outdoors, as your skin is exposed to sunlight through windows in your home and car. Areas of vitiligo no longer have any protective pigment, burn easily, and are more susceptible to developing skin cancer. A product called Total Block combines an SPF of 60 with antioxidants and cover-up protective liquid makeup to cover and protect areas of vitiligo in a cosmetically pleasing way.

4. Avoid skin trauma as much as possible, as cuts and abrasions frequently are followed by vitiligo in the affected areas.

5. Ginkgo biloba is perhaps the most studied herb used in the treatment of vitiligo. The leaf extract which contains antioxidant and immunomodulatory phytochemicals has been shown to improve vitiligo symptoms both when used alone and when used with other vitiligo treatments.