Vitiligo, also known as leucoderma, is a relatively common skin disorder, in which white spots or patches appear on the skin. These spots are caused by destruction or weakening of the pigment cells in those areas, resulting in the pigment being destroyed or no longer produced. In most cases, vitiligo is believed to be an autoimmune-related disorder. In vitiligo, only the colour of the skin is affected but texture and other skin qualities remain normal. The hair may also turn white that grows in areas affected by vitiligo.

It occurs when the melanocytes, cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function. The precise cause of vitiligo is complex and not fully understood. There is some evidence suggesting it is caused by a combination of auto-immune, genetic, and environmental factors.

CAUSES

·        Exact cause is not known.

·        Evidence points to autoimmune etiology.

·        Genetic predisposition is common.

·        Age: onset between 10-30 years.

CLINICAL FEATURES

ONSET

• Insidious.

LOCATION

• Common sites, to start with, are pressure points, i.e. knuckles, elbows, lips.

SYMPTOMS

• Lesion do not itch.

LESION

• Start as white localised macules.
• Rounded, well defined at onset.
• Adjacent lesions coalesce.
• As they increase in size, become irregular.
• Spread to involve greater parts of the body.
• Depigmented lesion is surrounded by area of apparent hyper pigmentation.
• No sensory loss in lesion.
• Every little trauma heals with depigmentation.
• Lesions are hypersensitive to sunlight.

DIAGNOSIS

·        Clinical.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

·        Reassurance.

·        Treat associated disorder.

·        If iatrogenic, identify & withdraw offending agent.

·        Avoid physical trauma.

·        Adequate mental rest.

·        Improve general health.

Homeopathic Treatment

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each medicine may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit Hpathy  Materia Medica section. None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.

Homeopathic Remedies

BOERICKE- SKIN- LEUCODERMA.

• Ars.alb.
• Ars.sulph.flavum.
• Bacillinum.
• Graphites.
• Merc sol.
• Nat.mur.
• Nit.acid.
• Nux vom.
• Phos.
• Sep.
• Sil.
• Sulph.
• Thuja.

Bacillinum

The patient is suffer from chronic cold, cough & occasional history of haemoptysis. He has loss in weight, loss of appetite, flat chested young boys & girls, prominent ribs & prominent clavicles. We get history of asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis & even T.B. in patients.

A Maceration of a Typical Tuberculous Lung Mind. Taciturn, sulky, snappish, fretty,   irritable, morose, depressed and melancholic even to insanity. Fretful ailing, whines   and complaints; mind given to be frightened particularly by dogs.

Graphites

Obese patient with a history of suppressed itch.

Suited to – Excessive cautiousness; timid, hesitates; unable to decide  about anything. Fidgety while sitting at work. Sad, despondent; music makes her weep; thinks of nothing but death.

Merc sol.

There is history of dysentery with mucus & blood. Jaundice with liver enlargement. These patients are worst at night with salivation & have a syphilitic miasm. They perspire in bed & do not tolerate too hot or too cold climate.

Nervous affections after suppressed discharges especially in psoric patients. Glandular and scrofulous affections of children.

Nit. Acid

White spots are found at the muco-cutaneus junction. More at the angle of the mouth, eyes, nose, nipples, glans penis, vulva, etc. Along with it, there may be fissure at the same spot. In some of the patients along with this there is a desire for eating chalk, pencils, etc., particularly in children.

Sepia

Best acted in females. Beside the usual white discolouration, these patients have irregular menses either early or late, scanty & painful menses in young girls. Leucorrhoea, prurites, dysparunia, & frigidity is noted. Most of the patients complain of morning sickness along with motion sickness, nausea, vomiting or headache travelling in a car or bus. These patients are not social, they prefer to be alone.

Adapted to persons of dark hair, rigid fibre, but mild and easy decomposition.

Sulphur

There is a history of suppression of skin diseases or any other suppression like suppressed diarrhoea, dysentery, jaundice, typhoid & in tropics many other fevers. There is heat in the palms, soles, eyes, anus, vulva, vagina & on the top of the head. Generally hot patient but could be chilly. Irritability & obstinacy is also noted.

Adapted to persons of a scrofulous diathesis, subject to venous congestion;   especially of portal system. Persons of nervous temperament, quick motioned, quick  tempered, plethoric, skin excessively sensitive to atmospheric changes. For lean,  stoop-shouldered persons who walk and sit stooping like old men. Standing is the worst position for sulphur patients; they cannot stand; every standing position is uncomfortable. Dirty, filthy people, prone to skin affections. Aversion to being washed; always <. after a bath.

Thuja

There is history of vaccination. There is dreams of falling, startling in sleep, have warts on face or on the body, with loss of appetite after vaccination. There is history of tuberculosis or respiratory diseases.

Adapted to hydrogenoid constitution of  Grauvogl. Acts well in lymphatic temperament, in very fleshy persons, dark complexion, black hair unhealthy skin.  Ailments from bad effects of vaccination; from suppressed or maltreated gonorrhoea. Fixed ideas: as if a strange person were at his side; as if soul and body were separated;  as if a living animal were in abdomen; of being under the influence of a superior power.