How to Treat and Prevent White Patches on Skin
80The medical term for white patches on skin is Vitiligo. Between 1 to 2% of the world's population suffers from this disorder, which is approximately 65 million people. In the United States alone several million people have the disease. It affects people from all races and over 93% of people who have vitiligo are under the age of forty. These white patches may shrink, grow or remain the same size and often they develop symetrically on both sides of the body. They can appear anywhere on the body and in many cases they have a negative psychological effect on the victim because of the patches unattractive appearance. This is especially true in people with darker skin where the white skin patches are even more prominent.
What are the Symptoms of White Patches on the Skin?
When the cells that make pigment cease to function white patches begin to appear at different places on the body. These patches also appear inside the mouth and nose and on the scalp. The hair that grows on the infected area of the scalp turns white. Usually these white patches are first noticed in the summer and are more susceptible to sun burn because the protective pigment melanin isn't present.
What are the Causes of White Patches on the Skin?
There is some controversy as to the actual cause of Vitiligo, but it is believed by many experts that it is an auto-immune disorder which means the body attacks itself, destroying pigment producing cells. Other causes are anemia due to Vitamin B12 deficiency, an overactive thryroid, diabetes, illness caused by lack of cortosone in the body and low stomach acid resulting in poor absorption of nutrients. Stomach acid is depleted by ulcer medications, antacids and food allergies. Other possible triggers for Vitiligo may be a single event such as sunburn or stress. Watch out for many popular brand sunscreen lotions which are unhealthy for the skin. To find out if the sunscreen you are presently using should be avoided click here
Vitiligo treatment
The B vitamins are an excellent way to reduce the stress that may cause white patches on the skin because they maintain proper skin tone, healthy nerves and promote good digestion. Eat Vitamin B rich foods such as whole grains, brown rice, wheat germ and nutritional yeast. To improve hormone function and reduce blood pressure consume plenty of omega-3 found in abundance in flax seed oil. Eliminate any foods suspect of causing allergies even though they may be minor.
Many people with white patches on the skin have been found to be deficient in stomach acid, preventing them from proper absorption of nutrients. When supplements were taken to restore stomach acid, many times the condition would improve. Hydrochloric acid will improve digestion. However, it should only be taken for a brief period of time to avoid dependency and reduction of naturally occuring stomach acids. If you find that you are experiencing stomach burn or warm feelings reduce the dosage of HCL. Vitamin B deficiency is often are one of the reasons for low stomach acid and taking them over a number of months will help restore normal levels of stomach acid. If low stomach acid is a hereditary problem this can be remedied by taking stomach bitters, apple cider vinegar, pepsin, PABA, vitamin C, B5, B6 or glutamine. The best time to take these supplements is right before each meal.
Daily Dosages:
Vitamin C with bioflavanoids, 1000mg per day
Vitamin B Complex, 50mg three times per day
Hydrochloric Acid, 1 capsule 3 times per day
PABA, 50mg per day
Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 tbsp in water daily
Swedish Bitters, 1tsp before each meal with water
Conclusion
White patches on the skin is a sign of health problems in the body. Making changes in diet and adding the appropriate supplements will not be an effective vitiligo treatment but will help to eliminate any health disorders in the body.
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Comments
what if your skin is just pasty white all over? Does that mean you spend too much time hubbing?
Thanks for your comment Edwin and thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for your comment hot dorkage! That's very funny. But seriously, too much hubbing can get stressful. Better take it easy.
Very nice hub! I have vitiligo on my knuckles, which look similar to the picture if you go to Wikipedia and type 'Vitiligo', although it's not my hand there. I've also heard that it's believed to be an autoimmune disease, where my immune system has turned on the pigment cells of my skin.
Thanks for your comment Pete! Yes that's right. The body attacks itself and destroys the cells ability to make pigment.
I am really learning a lot from your hubs! My brother has this disease. He is now 30, but has had it since we were kids. Everywhere his skin bends--knees, ankles, knuckles, elbows--have no pigment. We were told he lost his pigment whenever he got a cut or injury, like the skin would grow back with no color.
I'm going to forward this great info to him, maybe he can help himself out with supplements. Thanks!
Oh, I have white patches too on my skin, but I don't think it is this as it has never gotten any worsen (or better). They are on my upper arms. Any ideas?
Thanks for your comment Rachel. In some instances white patches do not get larger or smaller but stay the same size. Lots of people with these white patches have tried using nutrition and have had varying results. It usually takes several months before visible results are seen.
One product I have heard of mainly marketed toward people with Vitiligo but also applicable to anybody with skin imperfections is called Dermablend. It's a concealer cream that comes in many different shades of skin tone that doesn't wipe off easily like makeup. I think it's mainly found at JC Penney as well as its own website www.dermablend.com. I haven't tried it but I'm sure the challenging thing for buyers of it is finding the shade that really matches well with their shade of skin.
A concealer may be beneficial during the treatment process to hide white patches. The one concern I would have is the ingredients. Ninety eight percent of the skin care products in America contain unhealthy ingredients. Many skin creams contain mineral oil, petroleum based products and other harmful chemicals that prevent exfoliation or toxins and absorption of nutrients and cause premature aging of the skin. If this product is botanically based without harmful ingredients it's a great idea.
take a B-complex multivitamin each day. Also take Folic Acid 1 mg, Vitamin E 600 – 800 IU, and ascorbic acid 1000 mg a day.
informative
hi...i really enjoy reading your hub...great work!
this very nice post about skin condition vitiligo covering all the aspect of vitiligo. vitiligo is very serious skin condition that our million of population is suffering from this skin condition (Source: http://www.antivitiligo.com/) . Your research about the stomach acids is really appeal me Keep on for further research. I think it would be your great favour for the patients of vitiligo.
THANKS! I'm not sure if I have this exact disease but I have some white patches and the doctor prescribed lotramin, on the box it shows a foot, but it is supposed to recolor the skin.
I will try more vitamin B in my diet.
thanks very informative.
I hope it helps me
I was dx with this back in the spring. It's on my chin, cheeks and forehead. My doctor has me using a seriod cream 2 times a day for 3 weeks, stopping for a week, then using again for 3 weeks. I have to rest my skin for that week because it thins the skin. It is also around the few moles I have. 1 on my stomach and 1 on my back and 1 on my leg. It is embarrassing. I hate having it. It is spreading. My daddy also has it on his back. The dr thinks I may have it because of Daddy. But, from what you wrote, it may because I have been bad anemic for a long time. I have even had to have iv's of iron in the past year or so. The dr blamed that on me being on so much coumadin (warfarin). I am going to buy me some vitamins and try your advice. I want this gone soooooo bad you have no idea. I have to wear so much makeup to try and cover it up I feel like Tammy Faye Bakker. And it still doesn't cover it. Dermablend costs alot! Thanks so much for the advice! I will take any other advice you have! Thanks again so much!!! Have a great day :)
I only have one tiny patch of white skin on one of my arms. Since I'm also getting sun blemishes, I'm taking it as a sign that the Aging Process has begun *shudder*
it really works!!!! thanks for the information!!!!
Super post. It will help many people. Vitilago can be considered an immune-deficiency disease. There are professional homeopaths who can help the patient by approaching healing holistically and give energetic homeopathic remedies to clear this condition. All the best, Debby [homeopath]
thank you for this advice,if how to prevent vitiligo,,,,,cause my girlfriend have is have this so ill send this copy for her tnx
Hi Steve,
Thanks so much for the information.I will try the diet .
In my case, I have this skin pachiness since I have come to dubai, could it be due to the water here?As for the sun exposure, I use a good sun screen, 40 spf.
My doc has prescribed antioxidant-HC and said it isn't Vitiligo, but the fear remains. Hope it improves.
Thanks for the nice explanation.
A very well written hub, Steve. great job! You could write more on treatments I feel or there can be another new hub targeted to treatments and recent research. Hope to hear from from you soon :)
Cheers!
Sun
this article is really helpful,thanks
skin care is mostly problem in our life we need to care it for more info visit it.http://www.ofskin.com
Very Informative
it was really valuble information.thank you.
My friend's daughter aged about 9 years caught found of whit patches on her legs. Please, give preventive steps
i have been really stressed and worried for my mum.this article has made things easier for me.been very helpful.
Thankyou!
Great info - when I read your title I didn't think that the patch's were going to be that white.
i just noticed small white spots on my shoulder and 2 on my face..could the remedy help? im really scared
My wife is having this problem. Luckily its not so big of a problem. But if she is exposed to too much heat, it becomes worse and usually brings some itchiness. This is the reason why she does not exposed herself to much in the sun. Great hub.
thank you all for the information. i have white patches on my skin and i thought of some signs and the symtoms of hiv aids. so i was always worried about that. so after going through all the stuff, i am convinced that i was wrong and it is Vitiligo which i will now take care of it....
Can this disease be passed from one person to another? Should I drop my girlfriend if she's suffering from this disease?
Thanks for your comment ngureco!
Vitiligo isn't contagious but you might want consider whether you are with the right girl in the first place if you would drop her if it was contagious.
Hello Steve,
Recently, just diagnosed that i have vitiligo its been one year now that i have this white patches in my left shoulder small white spots, my dermatologist gave me a beta cream , AV lotion and i need to be injected every once a month. im afraid of these sometimes..I hate this with passion. Hope that i can get rid of it.. thanks for your information its very helpful
Do you have any idea steve, the best treatment to get rid on that skin disorder?
I also believe in changing lifestyle improving nutrition and adding workout to daily activity. I have a blog to share information about how to burn stomach fat at http://www.lose-it-now.net/burn-stomach-fat/. Hope you get a chance to visit and share your knowledge.
I recently had injections twice (within a few days of each other) in my lateral ligaments in both knees. It wasn't a cortisone shot, but rather an anti-inflammatory & painkiller from spraining the ligaments in both knees whilst running as part of a team in a 242km race. However, I had the injections about a month and a half ago, and just within the past 2 weeks or so, I've noticed quite a significant patch of 'white' aka a decrease in my pigment, in both knees and exactly the spot where I had the injections. I have no idea what this is and it's actually getting quite large on one of my knees. Do you have any idea what this is? Could it be that the injection somehow killed the cells that create the pigment in skin? Any advice would be extremely appreciated! Cheers!
nice HUB. I find great information here. very detail about this disease. thanks for share your idea.
My doc rabbitted on for 10 mins and didnt make nearly that much sense!! well done.
thanks for giving an idea & precousion from this patches, & i hope it really going to work. by taking this all vitimin every day thanks a lot
i have many white small patches all over my chest..which look unsightly....i have never had them before and i go to many hot countries...but this year here in england i sat in the sun and they apeared more or less overnight....i hate them ..they are also on my legs.....a few on back..and around my finger near to the nails.....how can i get rid of these.....???
interesting. my daughter who is mixed race has recenetly came back from her holiday in spain and over the last coulpe of weeks has developed these white spots across her face. looking at this information i think i need to see the doc and get her to see some specialist to help her whilst she so young. thanks
In my 20s I had tiny white patches on my legs. I had researched what to do about it, and found that taking
B vitamins was one of the ways. When I went to my doctor and told him about it, he said that B vitamins are the way to go. All the white patches disappeared by the time I was 30 years old.
Such skin disorders can be very frustrating if experienced: one can prevent such in instances by exercising regulaly. Exercise does not only yeild to good skin care but also reduces stress levels (prevention is always better than cure) Another method is by using products containing aloe vera, studies have shown that it holds anti-inflammatory properties and has been used by ancient people to protect skin from environmental factors and to promote skin regeneration.
I went to the dc yesterday and he told me that my baby has vitiligo, I'm so sad and angry because he is only two years old and he is beautiful, I really need help I don't know what to do
White patches is a common problems. I think allergies and deficiency of calcium can also cause white patches on face.
Edwin Clark says:
15 months ago
B Vitamins to me are the most important vitamin group. Thanks for the great info!