Vitiligo is an immune system related disorder. It leads to discolouration of normal skin and turns it into an abnormally white colour. It is necessary to address this problem at an early stage, if it progresses without check the results may be permanent and irreversible. Ayurveda offers a permanent and natural leucoderma treatment that can stop the spread of this disease and reverse its effect without any side effects. For more details, please read the article till the end.
What is Leucoderma?
Leucoderma which is also known as ‘Vitiligo’ is an autoimmune disorder. An autoimmune disorder is one in which the immune system of your body attacks the healthy cells and as a result, it starts affecting your body. It develops due to the improper functioning of the melanin pigment which is responsible for producing the cells determining the colour of hair and skin. It is therefore characterized by white patches on the skin.
Leucoderma or Vitiligo can affect any part of the body including the inner region of the mouth, nose, and hair. But usually, it affects both sides of the body and skin exposure to the sun have more chances to get affected. A person affected by vitiligo may feel stressed and self-conscious due to white patches on the skin. The disease is known to be caused by changes in the immune system, environmental factors or hereditary factors.
Types of Leucoderma/Vitiligo
There are mainly 2 types of Vitiligo, which are as below:
- Segmental vitiligo – In segmental vitiligo, the skin gets affected by only one side. The disease doesn’t spread further in segmental vitiligo.
- non-segmental vitiligo – In non-segmental vitiligo, skin gets affected by both sides and the area of the skin affected with vitiligo or leucoderma keeps on expanding with time in this type of vitiligo
Diagnosis and Vitiligo Treatment in Ayurveda
Your doctor will diagnose if you have vitiligo, he or she will ask about your medical history, examine you and try to find out other medical issues, such as dermatitis or psoriasis. Your doctor may use a lamp to shine ultraviolet light onto the skin to determine whether you have vitiligo. He/ she will further perform various tests to diagnose leucoderma disease such as:
Skin biopsy and blood test – The doctor will first gather your personal and family medical history and examine your skin, then he/ she will take a small sample (biopsy) of the affected skin and draw blood for lab tests to look for underlying autoimmune conditions, such as anaemia or diabetes.
Ayurveda can cure vitiligo permanently without any side effects. The Ayurvedic doctors identify this problem as a Tridosha disease. It means disturbance in all the 3 doshas causes Leucoderma.
Leucoderma ayurvedic treatment uses herbal medicines to cure the disease. Panchakarma therapies like Virechana, Vasti, Dhara, and Vamana are also used in the process as they strengthen the immune system of the body.
- Virechana – Also known as Purgative therapy, this therapy removes the toxicity of your body. Virechana is used for Pitta disorder to cleanse the primary site of the pitta that is the stomach and the small intestine. It is an efficient vitiligo treatment in Ayurveda.
- Basti therapy – It is also called Enema therapy. The therapy purifies the colon where the primary location of Vata nourishes the body. It is one of the best vitiligo treatment in Ayurveda.
- Vamana – Vamana is considered to be the effective vitiligo treatment in Ayurveda for both Pitta and Kapha excess. Vasantika Vamasa (therapeutic emesis in the spring season) can be used for preventive therapy for a disease of Kapha origin such as eczema.
These therapies and medicines have proven to be the most effective natural treatment for vitiligo.
Vitiligo is considered a noncurable disease and treatment results are unsatisfactory. Ayurvedic treatment for Vitiligo has shown remarkable and promising results. This article will help you to understand more about vitiligo and a view on ayurvedic treatment for Vitiligo.
Vitiligo is also known as leucoderma or white patches in the common man’s language. Vitiligo is as old as mankind and not new to Ayurveda. In Ayurveda vitiligo has been described as Shwitra. In the Sanskrit language, shwitra means whitish. Its also called shweta kusta, kilasa, aruna, shouklya.
Shwitra is one of the skin diseases which is considered to be challenging to treat or cure. Ayurveda texts have explained about causes, symptoms, and ayurvedic treatments for vitiligo in detail.
What is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a condition where the skin turns white in patches. Progressive loss of melanocytes in the skin (which are responsible for skin color), results in depigmented patches of the skin.
Vitiligo can affect the skin on any part of the body. The patches may vary from smaller to big. The vitiligo patches grow bigger or spread with time.
Vitiligo can affect the hair and on inside of the mouth.
Types of Vitiligo
Vitiligo has been classed into two major forms
- Segmental Vitiligo
- Non-segmental Vitiligo
Vitiligo affects 0.5%-1% of the world’s population.
Vitiligo can start at any age but is predominantly seen between the age of 20 and 30 years
Though vitiligo affects both males and females, female cases are a little higher compared to the male population.
What causes Vitiligo?
The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown. The researchers say that vitiligo is a result of different mechanisms working together. Vitiligo is considered an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases, immune cells attack the body’s own tissues by mistake. Researchers say that there is a high chance that people with vitiligo can get other autoimmune disorders.
Genetic factors are also responsible for vitiligo as approximately 30% of the patients have a family history of vitiligo.
Symptoms of Vitiligo
The main symptom of vitiligo is depigmentation or loss of natural color.
- In skin, white patches are seen usually on hands, feet, arms, face, etc… the patches can occur anywhere in the body.
- In Hair, it can turn to white when the skin loses pigment such as on the scalp, eyebrow, beard, and eyelashes.
- Mucous membranes of the mouth and nose get whitish patches.
Who can get Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is seen more in people who have a family history of vitiligo or who have any autoimmune diseases.
Anyone can get vitiligo anytime and at any age. The majority of people see white patches appearing before the age of 20 years or even in childhood.
Vitiligo is also seen in people who are having certain autoimmune diseases.
Disorders associated with vitiligo
- Thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism)
- Addison’s disease
- Pernicious anemia
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Diabetes
- Alopecia areata
- Morphoea and lichen sclerosus
- Halo naevus
- Malignant melanoma
Vitiligo is gradually progressive, but sometimes can spread rapidly and can remain stable for a long time.
Tests in Vitiligo
The diagnosis of vitiligo is done in a clinical examination as it shows a specific appearance.
Wood’s light examination is done when the symptoms are not clear and mimics other hypomelanotic disorders.
Vitiligo Treatment
Vitiligo has no cure. Vitiligo treatments can help to slow the progression of the discoloration. Results of the vitiligo treatment vary from person to person and are unsatisfactory.
- 1st line of treatment – Topical corticosteroids, and topical calcineurin inhibitors.
- 2nd line of treatment – Phototherapy.
- 3rd line of treatment – Surgical methods.
Vitiligo – An Ayurvedic View
Vitiligo is known as Shweta kushta in Ayurveda. Shwitra, Kilasa, Aruna, Shouklya are also the synonym for vitiligo in Ayurveda.
Causes for Shwitra according to Ayurveda
Ayurvedic texts mention the following factors are responsible for shwitra
- Indulgence in incompatible food
- Improper diet
- Improper physical and mental activities
- Suppression of natural urges
- Family history
- Behavioral misconduct
- Antisocial activities
- Sinful deeds
How does shwitra start? Ayurvedic view
Due to the causative factors the three doshas vata, pitta, and kapha gets aggravated travel through channels(siras) to reach rasa (watery element), rakta (blood), mamsa (muscle) dhatus (elements) and disturb their functions. Then the doshas travel to the external surface of the body and produce vitiligo (shwitra)
Vitiligo classification according to Ayurveda
Vitiligo classification ayurveda has done depending on the dosha predominance. They are three in number as follows
- Vataja Vitiligo – Non-glistening, mild and red in color, and non-exudative.
- Pittaja Vitiligo – Coppery red in color or resembles the lotus petal, burning sensation, loss of hairs
- Kaphaja Vitiligo – Whitish in color, thick, heavy patches with itching.
Prognosis
Vitiligo which has black hairs on the skin, very few patches, not joined together, recent onset, and which is not due to burning by fire is considered curable.
When the lesions appear on genitals, palms, and lips are incurable even if they are newly started.
When more than one colored lesion and a combination of two or more doshas are considered difficult to cure.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Vitiligo
Ayurvedic treatment for vitiligo includes both purificatory and administration medicines.
Due to its chronic nature, one may need to undergo repeated purificatory procedures such as panchakarma treatments.
Other treatments include lepana (external application, snehana (external application of oil/ghee and internal administration of oil/ghee), and swedana (sudation).
