Plants play a very important role in our health and advice is very important when you have a problem without a solution. In this article, you’ll discover tips and natural remedies that can help you treat Vitiligo. Vitiligo is a progressive depigmentation of certain areas of the body, white patches with regular contours, variable location and a tendency to spread. The disease develops rapidly. There are two types of vitiligo: segmental and non-segmental.
The skin changes caused by vitiligo affect both self-esteem and social life.
Vitiligo: What Natural Treatments Are There?
Sun exposure:
Exposure to the summer sun is believed to promote repigmentation, but it also accentuates the visual contrast between pigmented and depigmented areas of the skin. Overexposure and sunburn are aggravating factors.
Diet:
In addition to appropriate natural treatment, diet may play a protective or aggravating role in the development and progression of vitiligo.
Food additives and pollutants:
Since oxidative stress plays a central role, all food contaminants, additives and preservatives that generate oxidative stress should be avoided. In other words, it’s best to choose raw, unprocessed, organic products. Synthetic cosmetics should also be avoided.
Fatty acids:
A high intake of omega-6 fatty acids, found in certain vegetable oils (sunflower, corn) or processed products, and a low intake of omega-3 fatty acids may increase the reduction of free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines in vivo.
Vegetable oils may exacerbate the autoimmune response by increasing free radical formation and decreasing antioxidant enzyme levels.
In contrast, consumption of omega-3 fats combined with an antioxidant complex appears to protect against autoimmune mechanisms by increasing antioxidant enzymes and levels of transforming growth factor TGF-β (a cytokine that controls cell proliferation and differentiation).
Avoid tannin-rich foods:
The 2009 study recommends avoiding the following foods: mango, cashews, pistachios, chili peppers, cherries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries, tea, which contain phenols and phenolic compounds (tannins) that would worsen vitiligo.
Phenolic compounds induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and TNF-α by keratinocytes. Tannins induce cell apoptosis (cell death) in vitro, inhibit cellular enzymes, weaken cell membranes and chelate metal ions.
Prefer foods rich in quercetin:
Foods rich in quercetin, such as apples and red onions, should be favored because quercetin has protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death.
Foods rich in carotenoids:
These foods should be favored for their antioxidant effects. They include yellow-orange or green fruits and vegetables such as carrots, melons, broccoli, tomatoes (cooked), sweet potatoes, spinach, and so on.
Promote the consumption of certain mushrooms:
Crimini” or “Cremini” mushrooms are brown button mushrooms. They contain many interesting substances: selenium, zinc, vitamins B2, B3, B5, copper and manganese.
Selenium is a cofactor of glutathione peroxidase. Vitamin B2 is a cofactor of the enzyme GSH reductase, which reduces the oxidized form of glutathione.
Copper and manganese are cofactors of superoxide dismutase, an important antioxidant enzyme.
Crimini mushrooms also contain L-ergothioneine, a sulfur-containing amino acid that is a powerful antioxidant. Crimini, portobello, and white button (Agaricusbisporus) mushrooms contain this substance, more so in the first two. L-ergothioneine is not destroyed by cooking.
Mushrooms also prevent excess circulating estrogens by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase, which enables estrogen synthesis.
Consumption of crimini mushrooms is therefore recommended for people suffering from this skin condition.
Micronutrition:
Micronutrition, a natural treatment, also helps to relieve the symptoms of vitiligo.
Vitamin D3
According to a 2021 meta-analysis, patients with this skin condition have significantly lower serum vitamin D levels than the general population. These levels are correlated with the type of occupation, depending on whether or not they are exposed to sunlight.
This study underscores the need to assess and, if necessary, correct people’s vitamin D status.
Another study from 2021 highlights that vitamin D can modulate immune function and stimulate melanogenesis in vitro, and questions its role in disease stabilization and the repigmentation process.
This study followed 101 adult Caucasian patients with this condition for six months. Vitamin D levels were correlated with vitiligo activity and lesion repigmentation.
Zinc:
Zinc is a trace mineral with multiple functions in the human body.
It is a molecule with antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties that counteract cell “suicide”.
Zinc is necessary for growth and development at every stage of life. It plays a key role in the immune system, reproduction, sensory organs and neuronal development. It is also an important coenzyme in the synthesis of melanin.
Zinc is found in the diet, mainly in oysters, red meat, poultry and beans. Recommended daily doses vary according to age and sex: 15 mg/day on average for an adult.
Omega-3 fatty acids:
A natural treatment for vitiligo, omegas are supplied through the diet or through dietary supplements such as fish oil capsules rich in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) omega-3 fatty acids.
L-Phenylalanine:
L-phenylalanine is an essential amino acid that is the precursor of tyrosine, which is a precursor of catecholamines (dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline) and skin melanin.
It is found in protein foods such as eggs, chicken, liver, beef, milk, cheese, and soy, as well as in dietary supplements. It is industrially produced by Escherichia coli, a bacterium capable of producing large amounts of phenylalanine or other amino acids.
Vitamins B9 and B12:
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is found in foods of animal origin (meat, eggs, dairy products, fish). The daily requirement for an adult is 2.4 µg/d. Along with pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and folic acid (vitamin B9), it is a cofactor in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine.
Vitamin B12 deficiency, defined as a serum level below 200 pg/mL, is common in adults (the elderly, alcoholism, B12-deficient diets, absorption disorders). B12 deficiency implies excessive homocysteine levels, especially in the presence of a genetic mutation in the MTHFR gene, which is common in vitiligo.
Herbal Medicine:
Gingko biloba:
Gingko biloba is one of the oldest trees on the planet, and its leaves and seeds have long been used in phytotherapy38 to treat a variety of ailments, including allergies, venous disorders, headaches, dizziness, and more.
More recently, leaf extracts have been used in the natural treatment of vitiligo. Its mechanism of action in this indication is not yet understood, but seems to be related to its antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Numerous experimental data suggest the efficacy of Gingko in controlling the progression of this pathology and in the repigmentation of lesions, particularly when administered alongside conventional treatments such as corticosteroids and phototherapy. Recent studies show that it is as effective as monotherapy.
Unfortunately, depending on the study, the results in terms of repigmentation are not uniform, which could be explained by genetic differences in the populations studied, the use of different types of Gingko extracts, the duration of treatment, dosage in terms of dose and number of daily doses.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in 2003, 52 patients with this condition took 40 mg of capsule extracts 3 times daily for 6 months.
Disease progression was halted in the gingko group. 10 patients achieved complete repigmentation compared to 2 patients in the placebo group.
It is safe and well tolerated at the usual dose of 120 mg per day. Doses higher than 240 mg daily may cause irritability and mild gastrointestinal upset.
Patients taking anticoagulants should not take it without medical advice as it has moderate anticoagulant activity.
Extracts should be taken for more than three months, 120 mg daily, 40 mg 3 times a day.
Polypodium leucotomos:
Polypodium leucotomos is a tropical fern of the Polypodiaceae family from Central and South America, known locally as “calaguala”.
The parts of the plant traditionally used are the leaves and the rhizomes. Polypodium leucotomos extracts are known for their antioxidant and photoprotective properties. They contain a number of active phenolic compounds that may explain these properties: coumaric acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and vanillic acid.
Polypodium leucotomos is used in the treatment of various dermatological conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
More recently, it has been used as a natural oral adjuvant to UVB phototherapy in vitiligo. This combination produced better repigmentation than phototherapy alone.
In 2007, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 50 patients with this condition over a 25-week period. In this study, the combination of 250 mg of Polypodium leucotomos administered twice daily plus twice-weekly sessions of UVB phototherapy at 311 nm significantly improved repigmentation of patients’ necks and hands compared to placebo.
In practice, capsules and creams based on Polypodium leucotomos are available on the market.
Nigella oil (Nigella sativa):
Nigella, also known as black seed, is a Mediterranean herb that has been known and used as a spice and medicinal plant since ancient Egypt.
A 2014 study of 52 patients compared the effect of black seed oil applied twice daily to vitiligo lesions with that of locally applied fish oil.
After six months, both groups showed significant repigmentation, better with black seed oil (VASI score from 4.98 to 3.75) than with fish oil (VASI score from 4.98 to 4.62). Improvements were seen primarily in the fingers, trunk, neck, and head of the nigella oil group and in the head, neck, trunk, and feet of the fish oil group. No adverse effects were reported with these oils.
The use of black seed oil as a natural treatment applied topically may be recommended in addition to other treatments for vitiligo.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa):
Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from turmeric. It is used in the treatment of a variety of diseases due to its many properties: antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, etc.
A cream containing tetrahydrocurcumide was tested in combination with UVB phototherapy. Phototherapy was applied for 12 weeks, with two sessions per week. At the end of treatment, patients showed slightly better repigmentation than those treated with UVB phototherapy alone.
In conclusion, curcumin, like other antioxidants, could be administered orally as a natural adjuvant treatment for vitiligo.
Green Tea (Camellia sinensis):
Green tea polyphenols, extracted from green tea leaves, contain substances called catechins, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which are antioxidants with photoprotective properties. They reduce UV-induced oxidative stress and inhibit various cytokines. They have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, mainly due to their EGCG content.
They can be administered both locally and systemically. Green tea polyphenols could therefore be useful in the natural treatment of vitiligo by stopping oxidative stress in melanocytes.
However, the data are still experimental. In practice, it is possible to drink green tea or take supplements containing green tea polyphenols, but further studies are needed to determine the appropriate dosages for oral or topical EGCG-based treatments.
Capsaicin:
Capsaicin is an active ingredient found in chili peppers, a plant in the genus Capsicum. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been studied as a therapeutic agent. An in vitro experiment confirmed that incubation of keratinocytes from a peri-lesional area of vitiligo in the presence of capsaicin led to a halt in cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species.
However, in vivo studies with topical capsaicin treatments are needed.
Resveratrol:
Resveratrol is a natural phenol found in certain foods such as grapes, cranberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, cocoa, red wine and peanuts. It has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be obtained through diet or supplementation.
Recent in vitro studies show that liposomes enriched with resveratrol and psoralen have several beneficial effects on melanocytes through stimulation of melanin and tyrosinase and through antioxidant action.
In conclusion, resveratrol could be useful in the natural treatment of vitiligo, alone or in combination with puvatherapy.
Quercetin:
Quercetin is an antioxidant compound of the flavonoid family, more precisely a flavonol, found in certain plants such as red onions, capers, lovage, red berries such as elderberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, red grapes, etc. Quercetin’s protective effects against oxidative stress in melanocytes and keratinocytes have been documented in several studies.
Several studies have documented the protective effects of quercetin against oxidative stress in melanocytes and keratinocytes. Some studies show a protective effect of local quercetin-based treatment against UV-induced oxidative stress. Other studies suggest the benefits of natural oral quercetin treatment for vitiligo patients.
Fire Creeper (Pyrostegia venusta):
Fire creeper is a Brazilian plant of the Bignoniaceae family. Topical preparations of fire creeper leaf extract are widely used in Brazil for the natural treatment of vitiligo.
The mechanisms of action of this plant are under investigation. Its efficacy appears to be related to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and melanogenic properties.
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao):
Cocoa powder, derived from cacao beans, contains a mixture of flavonols, which are plant pigments in the polyphenol family. Included in this mixture are catechins and epicatechins, which have documented antioxidant properties.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 2006, flavonol-rich cocoa powder dissolved in water taken for 12 weeks significantly reduced skin erythema associated with exposure to UVB rays. Flavonol-rich cocoa powder also increased skin circulation, firmness and hydration.
Cocoa can be consumed in the form of raw cacao capsules or as squares of dark chocolate roasted to over 75% cacao, 3 to 4 squares per day.
To Conclure
Natural remedies can help. In this article you had read about different natural remedies to treat Vitiligo. Always consult your doctor or health advisor before using any plant.
marie@theorganichouses.com