White Patches


	White Patches (Vitiligo) and Ayurvedic Treatment

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White Patches or Vitiligo as it is also called, is a skin condition in which certain parts of the skin start to lose their colour leading to the appearance of colourless patches. Our skin contains a substance called melanin, which is a dark pigment, and it is what gives our skin its colour. Melanin protects the skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Sometimes, parts of the skin stop producing melanin or the melanin already present is destroyed. The areas deficient in melanin appear as white patches. This is the beginning of white patches.

White Patches may start as a small patch and spread rapidly to all the parts of the body or it may gradually spread. In case any part of the scalp is affected, the hair growing from the area will also be devoid of colouration.

Causes

	Though the exact causes of white patches are unknown, various factors precipitate the condition like:
	Emotional stress
	Hereditary factors
	Worms
	Burns
	Injuries
	Sometimes diseases like hyperthyroidism, pernicious anemia, diabetes mellitus and Addison's disease aggravate the condition. But having these diseases does certainly not mean that one will develop White pateches.

White Patches does not differentiate between races, sexes, religions or even socio-economic groups. Anyone can develop this condition irrespective of age or gender. Of the 1% of the world's population suffering from white patches, 8.8% of the cases are recorded in India.

White Patches can be permanently cured depending upon:

The extent of skin affected and

The duration of the illness.Treating white patches is a long process and one may require at least 1 to 3 years to be completely cured.

Treating white patches is a long process and one may require at least 1 to 3 years to be completely cured.

If you have white patches…

Give your skin 30-minute daily doses of sunlight.

Use a mild soap.

Avoid using creams, powders and any other cosmetic applications.

Make sure that your diet contains enough iron. Meat, liver, cereals, beans, lentils and green, leafy vegetables are some of the best sources of iron.

As far as possible avoid consuming citrus fruits, tamarind, fish, lobsters, crabs and prawns.

Don't stress yourself too much and learn to relax.

Keep a positive attitude and always regard yourself in highest esteem. Don't allow people to let you down.

If you ever have to experience teasing or ridiculing, ignore it.

If you are undergoing treatment for white patches, it is important to remember that the healing process is long and you will have to be very patient. It is likely that you will be frustrated with the delays and even change doctors. Changing doctors only means that your treatment will have to start all over again, further delaying your recovery.

Ayurveda and White patches

People are increasingly turning to Ayurveda for a cure for white patches because of the failure of other medical systems to produce a desired cure. Ayurveda Provides control and reverses the disease to the most possible extent and also educates the patient and his relatives about the nature of this disease. This helps the patient to relax and thus he/ she is cured at a much faster pace than otherwise.

The other benefits of a Ayurvedic treatment are:

	Convenience and ease.
	No surgery, painful injections.
	Economical.
	Ayurvedic treatment helps in building immunity and regenerating pigments so that the skin regains its original colouring. The patients can observe the effects thus:
	After the medication starts that white patches on the body start turning pink.
	Brown spots appear on the pink patches.
	These spots that coalesce, returning the skin to its original colour.

Before Treatment

After Treatment

	The extent of skin affected and
	The duration of the illness.Treating white patches is a long process and one may require at least 1 to 3 years to be completely cured.
	Treating white patches is a long process and one may require at least 1 to 3 years to be completely cured.

	Give your skin 30-minute daily doses of sunlight.
	Use a mild soap.
	Avoid using creams, powders and any other cosmetic applications.
	Make sure that your diet contains enough iron. Meat, liver, cereals, beans, lentils and green, leafy vegetables are some of the best sources of iron.
	As far as possible avoid consuming citrus fruits, tamarind, fish, lobsters, crabs and prawns.
	Don't stress yourself too much and learn to relax.
	Keep a positive attitude and always regard yourself in highest esteem. Don't allow people to let you down.
	If you ever have to experience teasing or ridiculing, ignore it.
	If you are undergoing treatment for white patches, it is important to remember that the healing process is long and you will have to be very patient. It is likely that you will be frustrated with the delays and even change doctors. Changing doctors only means that your treatment will have to start all over again, further delaying your recovery.