12 Best Tips On How To Treat Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin disease that manifests with specific skin color and white patches that appear at different times and places on the body. It may affect more than one person in a family or group, affecting about 1% of all people worldwide.

The cause is still unknown, but scientists believe there are many factors involved, such as genetics, autoimmune diseases, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and so on. There is no known cure for this condition yet. You can only treat the symptoms by using medications to stop inflammation caused by this disorder or chemicals applied on the affected area to help repigment it with standard skin color. The good news is that you can improve your quality of life through proper treatment and proper nutrition to boost your immune system against further outbreaks and reduce other skin discoloration.

Here are some tips that can help you treat vitiligo:

1. Use sunscreen/sunblock

The truth is that many people suffering from vitiligo find it difficult to expose their skin to the sun because the skin becomes more sensitive due to some changes in the autoimmune system. Sunlight can cause further damage to the white patches of the skin, thus making it more difficult for you to repigment your skin with its natural color. It would help if you used sunscreen or sunblock before exposing yourself to sunlight.

2. Avoid trauma, injuries, and burns

Trauma, injury, and burn are some factors that may trigger vitiligo outbreaks in specific parts of the body. Therefore, you need to avoid these factors if you want to keep your condition under control. Be sure that there are no open wounds on your affected skin either. Any injuries should be treated immediately to prevent further damage, and any burn should also be adequately healed.

3. Stay away from skin irritants such as chemicals

It is highly recommended that you keep away from anything that can cause irritation or inflammation of your skin, such as chemicals, detergents, etc. These things aggravate the symptoms of vitiligo and make it more difficult for you to treat this condition naturally at home with an effective treatment plan.

4. Use emollients to improve hydration of dry skin

Dryness in the body causes itching and cracking, which in turn cause trauma and worsen vitiligo symptoms by triggering new outbreaks in specific parts of the body., if you want to treat vitiligo naturally at home. Therefore, you need to use emollients and moisturizers that can improve your skin’s hydration and protect against irritation and dryness in your skin. You should apply creams or ointments directly to the affected areas. Be careful when using any products on these areas because they may cause further irritations when applied directly on white patches of skin.

5. Use sunscreen/sunblock to treat vitiligo

You can expose your affected skin to sunlight for about 15 minutes a day if you want to treat vitiligo naturally at home using therapies such as phototherapy (a treatment method that exposes the body to natural light for a short period). However, you should wear sunscreen or sunblock before going under the sun because it is more sensitive to sunlight.

6. Eat antioxidant-rich foods

Antioxidants are essential for your body as they protect you from diseases and boost your body’s immune system, allowing it to fight infections effectively and prevent any breakouts of symptoms such as vitiligo. Also, include antioxidant-rich food in your daily diet plan to make sure that you maintain healthy cells all over your body, thus preventing further outbreaks of this skin condition. You can consult a nutritionist or dietician who can help you create a complete diet plan based on your nutritional deficiencies if there are any (e.g., vitamin D deficiency).

7. Improve iron levels in the bloodstream

Iron levels play a vital role in improving the immunity of your body against diseases, including vitiligo. Research studies have shown that iron deficiency anemia is associated with white spots on the skin; thus, treating this condition may involve correcting iron deficiencies in the body. You can use oral or topical supplements such as liquid drops containing Iron to improve blood circulation and reverse any micronutrient deficiency in your body.

8. Apply apple cider vinegar to treat vitiligo

Apple cider vinegar contains specific properties such as alpha-lipoic acid, acetic acid, and enzymes that help reduce inflammation and irritation and improve blood flow in your skin by promoting collagen production in the affected areas. Therefore, you need to apply apple cider vinegar topically on the affected areas two times a day for at least one month to see improvements in your condition.

9. Use sunscreen when going outdoors

Exposure of your skin under sunlight is a very effective way of treating vitiligo naturally at home. Still, you need to use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher before going outdoors, even if it’s cloudy. You have to protect yourself from direct sunlight as much as possible because harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun can worsen the symptoms and trigger new outbreaks all over your body.

10. Expose yourself gradually to sunlight

Sunlight is beneficial for your body because it suppresses melanin (produces white patches) on the affected areas and helps vitiligo naturally at home. However, it would help if you exposed yourself gradually and cautiously under sunlight over time to avoid any burns and damage to the affected areas. You can start by telling your skin for two minutes a day and slowly increase this time as your condition improves, or you can go outdoors during weekends because it is safer than going out every day.

11. Improve blood circulation

Blood circulation is essential for bringing nutrients and oxygen to various parts of your body, thus improving cell health and preventing further outbreaks of white spots on the skin caused by vitiligo. Therefore, you need to exercise regularly or perform other activities that enhance blood flow in your system, such as massage therapy. Massage therapy should be performed daily on the affected areas using soothing oil such as coconut oil or olive oil to enhance blood circulation and promote healing.

12. Use sunscreen on the affected areas every day

Exposure of your skin under sunlight is a very effective way of treating vitiligo naturally at home. Still, you need to use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher before going outdoors, even if it’s cloudy. You have to protect yourself from direct sunlight as much as possible because harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun can worsen the symptoms and trigger new outbreaks all over your body.

“Although there are many ways to treat vitiligo naturally at home, these tips should be considered the most useful for anyone looking for fast results.

There are some other treatment options to consider if you have vitiligo according to the skin doctor or dermatologists are:|

Laser treatment: Laser treatment is the best option for people with generalized vitiligo. It can stimulate pigment cells to develop color and provide a degree of protection against sun damage|.

Skin grafting: Skin grafts are also a simple choice as long as there isn’t too much vitiligo; the surrounding skin unaffected by the disease can be used as a donor site. However, it is not appropriate for many patients with extensive vitiligo.

Skin Fillers: When your vitiligo spots reach a specific size and you don’t want them removed, the doctor may suggest using fillers like collagen or fat to make your patch less noticeable.

Treating Vitiligo With Psoralen and Ultraviolet Light: This is the first type of treatment for vitiligo patients. It works by exposing your skin to ultraviolet light after taking a medication called psoralen. The drug makes you more sensitive to sunlight, which could help stimulate pigment cells in your skin to produce color as they recover from sun damage|. However, this treatment has many risks, including an increased risk of developing skin cancer and cataracts. It should only be performed at a specialized center to treat people with disorders like vitiligo or depigmentation problems.

Pigment cell transplantation: There are two types of transplants for pigment cells: melanocyte transplant and cultured autologous pigment epithelial cell transplant. You can get pigment cells transplanted onto your skin from the donor site, which is usually another part of your body that has some color. When you have melanocyte transplantation, healthy cells are taken from an area on your skin that does contain color and transplanted to replace lost pigment cells in vitiligo-affected areas|. This procedure may be safe, but it has not been proven to work for extensive vitiligo. Cultured autologous pigment epithelial cell transplantation takes cells taken from the patient’s hair follicles then grown in a lab before being applied back onto the person’s skin where they will continue to expand into new pigmentation|.

You can also try natural remedies for vitiligo:

Most medical professionals believe that a combination of treatments is necessary rather than a single treatment. Vitiligo is a complex condition to treat, but new therapies are being developed every year.In the meantime, try using some natural remedies for vitiligo to lessen itching and discomfort. Some of these include:

• Include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet since they contain antioxidants that help rejuvenate cells, causing pigment loss|. Also, eat foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids such as walnuts, kernel, salmon, tuna, and halibut, since they help regenerate cells in your skin. Consumption of vitamin C helps the body produce collagen that is necessary for building up healthy skin|.
• Drink lots of water to keep your skin hydrated and avoid dryness that can intensify itching and flaking.
• Exercise regularly since it will stimulate blood flow, bringing more nutrients to the cells, causing pigmentation loss. It relaxes sore muscles and keeps you in shape, so you don’t feel self-conscious about your vitiligo spots because of bony parts or sagging skin.
• Stay positive! Going through a chronic illness can take a toll on your mental health, but one way to boost confidence is by staying socially with friends and family members who can provide emotional support.
• Go to a dermatologist – vitiligo is a disease that mainly affects the skin, and if you visit a dermatologist, they will know how to help as soon as they see your condition. Dermatologists have seen many cases of vitiligo, so they know their stuff when it comes to dealing with this skin disorder. They can prescribe medications or offer suggestions on ways to improve patches from time to time|
• Limit exposure to sunlight – being overexposed can cause dryness and irritation, which will make your patches worse. It is also not advisable for light-skinned people to expose themselves to the sun because it could lead them to get more severely burned|
• Use moisturizers – it may seem like a small detail, but moisturizing can do wonders. Applying petroleum jelly can help your skin retain moisture, especially if you are applying ointment to the affected area of ​​your skin|
• Take vitamins – some foods are said to help your skin recover more quickly. Vitamin A does wonders because it stimulates cells that produce pigment, which will slowly start restoring color in the patches of your affected areas|

Consider homeopathic treatment for vitiligo:

• Homeopathic medicine is made using natural ingredients, so you don’t worry about any side effects. It has been said that the pigmentation process can be stimulated with homeopathy because it increases immunity and defends against infections.
• Homeopathic treatment for vitiligo is a long process since it takes time for your skin to recover. However, homeopathy is undoubtedly worth looking into if you want a natural way to treat this disorder.
• Homeopathic treatment for vitiligo treats the root cause of the disease instead of just treating its symptoms. The good thing about this treatment is that it can restore skin color without recreating pigment loss.

For instance, if you are using a steroid cream to reduce inflammation and itching, your skin’s protective layer will be stripped off, making your other patches vulnerable to sunlight damage. Homeopathy stimulates the body’s natural defenses to slow down the disease and give your skin time to regenerate pigment. You can meet a homeopathy doctor through OHO Homeopathy for more detailed information. Book an appointment now!