Vitiligo is a skin condition that affects 1 – 2 % of the population world wide. Vitiligo is a condition where there is de- pigmentation of the skin due to an imbalance in the melanin production, which gives colour to the skin create lighter spots on the skin that become more apparent when you tan. Vitiligo can show up at any time, but more so under conditions of stress and poor diet.

Various naturopathic treatments are available for the treatment of vitiligo, and naturopaths treat vitiligo based on the various factors: diet and stress being primary. To date, no one is really sure as to why one gets vitiligo, but in our naturopathic clinic, as a naturopath, I have found that in order to treat vitiligo naturally, its necessary to first evaluate the general health status of the individual. The immune system plays a huge role when it comes of the treatment of vitiligo and it is necessary to rule out any auto immune conditions, as autoimmune triggers may in effect cause an “flare up” of vitiligo spots, where you see a whole lot of new spots appearing or the existing spots getting larger.

Vitiligo is part of a larger group of skin condition called leukoderma.  Stress is another factor that may worsen this condition. Naturopathic medicine uses various natural therapies such as acupuncture, natural supplements and diet to improve the body’s reaction to stress. An imbalanced diet can also create stress on the body, along with food allergies that can create an imbalance in the immune system due the an antigen – antibody complex overload.

Various skin creams are available that may or may not help with vitiligo, depending on the cause of the vitiligo. Quite often leukoderma is misdiagnosed as vitiligo. UV treatments have been shown to be somewhat helpful for treating this condition. Natural supplement therapy targeted to balance the immune system, rebalance the body and produce melanin is usually most effective when it comes to halting new spots from appearing.

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.