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TREATMENT OF
VITILIGO
by Dr. Rajesh Shah What is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo
is more commonly known as leucoderma, which simply means white (leuco) skin (derma), i.e.
a skin disorder where it looses its normal coloration. It is also medically known as
achromia, which means loss of color. Basically, Vitiligo can hardly be called as a disease
but a skin- disorder that has more social than medical significance, especially amongst
the dark skin people. Due to retarded melanin formation, there is loss of pigmentation.
The vitiligo sufferers are observed all over the world, including the white skin
communities. However, epidemiologically most cases are recorded in India (8.8%) and
Mexico. Males and females are affected equally, inclusive of children age group. It may
begin at any age. Childhood vitiligo is not uncommon.
Causes:
The exact cause
remains unknown. However, there are theories suggesting autoimmune link, hormonal
connection, etc. Often observed in the family members. The precipitating factors have been
identified as due to pressure of tight clothes or certain occupational hazards such as
wearing certain rubber hand gloves.
Features:
Varying
from a single white spot to multiples spots. In some cases generalized de-pigmentation
observed all over the body. Some cases showing affection of the mucocutaneous junctions
such as finger-tips, corners of the mouth, around eyes.
Treatment :
Vitiligo
has always puzzled physicians of all walk. However, homoeopathy system offers reasonably
positive treatment if not cure in all the cases.
Homoeopathy
approach:
As a
rule, homoeopathy never looks at Vitiligo as a local disease. Vitiligo has been considered
as a local expression of a system disturbance. As per the classical homoeopathy, we
believe in constitutional prescribing. This calls for individual case study in every case
of vitiligo. There is no single specific remedy for all the cases of vitiligo. The exact
treatment is determined only on in-depth evaluation of individual case.
Is Vitiligo
curable with homoeopathy ?
Based on
a study at our center, it can be said that the answer broadly depends of the following
criteria :
• Duration of vitiligo
• Extent of spread
Duration of
vitiligo:
Those
cases of recent origin respond much better than ones which are more than 10 years old
duration. Children and young people have shown better results in our experience.
Extent of spread:
Single or
some spots ( 2 to 9) respond better than those which are very large ( more than 5 inches
in size). Those individuals having a only a single spot have excellent cure rate. The
cases with generalized spread and affection of finger- tips, toes, corners of the mouth
and eyes have shown no results in our experience.
Duration of
treatment:
Vitiligo
being a chronic and long-standing disorder, it takes time to show results. Larger and
older spots take longer time. Exact time can not be predicted. However, improvement begins
within 4 to 8 weeks in most cases. The length of treatment should be considered as over 6
months to one year or more. |
