Vitiligo: Finding the Missing Piece of The Story

Have you ever seen someone with a full head of brown hair, but then a little patch of white? Or maybe you’ve noticed a small white freckle or spot on your own arms or shoulder. These patches of white skin or hair may be caused by a condition called vitiligo. While vitiligo affects the appearance, it tends to be a bit more longstanding than acne or rosacea. Like these skin issues, many people with vitiligo may feel self-conscious and try to cover it with makeup. But is vitiligo really a skin condition, or is something going on behind the scenes? In this article, we’ll cover the underlying imbalances behind vitiligo and what you can do about it.

What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition characterized by the loss of pigment (melanin) in sections of the skin. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin, die or cannot function properly. As a result, the affected areas of skin appear white or lighter than the surrounding skin.

Vitiligo can affect any area of the body, including the hair and inside the mouth, but is most common on the face, neck, hands, and in skin folds like the armpits and groin. The condition can occur at any age, but usually starts before age 30. Vitiligo is not contagious and does not cause any physical harm. It can, however, have significant psychological effects, as it can make a person feel self-conscious and affect self-image.

Connection to other autoimmune diseases

Vitiligo is considered an autoimmune disease, where the immune system is so stressed that it attacks and destroys its own cells. In the case of vitiligo, the immune system attacks the cells that produce pigment. But that may not be the only autoimmune condition occurring. If you have one autoimmune disease, you’re more likely to develop another. That said, autoimmune diseases frequently associated with vitiligo include:

Thyroid diseases, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (1) and Graves’ disease (2) (3)
Type 1 diabetes (4)
Myasthenia gravis (2)
Lupus (2)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (2)

While it’s never guaranteed that people with vitiligo will get another autoimmune disease, they should be aware of the increased risk.

What are signs and symptoms of vitiligo?

The main sign of vitiligo is pale, white, or depigmented patches of skin or hair. These patches can occur anywhere on the body and can vary in size. They tend to be more common in skin areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, hands, and feet. They’ll often appear symmetrically on the body like on both elbows or both feet. (5) Other signs and symptoms of vitiligo may include:

Premature whitening or graying of the hair on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or beard (6)
Loss of color in the retina of the eye, resulting in vision disturbances (6)
Increased sensitivity to the sun, including a greater chance of getting sunburn or skin cancer in the affected areas (7)
Discoloration of the mucous membranes, such as the inside of the mouth or nose. (6)(7)

The depigmented patches may gradually enlarge and spread over time. While vitiligo is a chronic condition, it can occur in episodes, with periods of stability followed by periods of progression. The symptoms of vitiligo can vary significantly from person to person, with some having worse symptoms than others.

Who gets Vitiligo?

Vitiligo affects people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. It’s estimated to affect about 1% of the world’s population and occurs equally in both men and women. While vitiligo can develop at any age, it most commonly appears between 10 and 30. (8)

Vitiligo can affect people of all skin types, but it is more noticeable in people with darker skin tones. (6) The condition can also occur in individuals with albinism–people born without any skin color or hair color. This can make their hair appear white and their eyes pink.

What are the contributing factors to vitiligo?

Several factors may contribute to vitiligo, including:

Genetics: Many doctors would suggest that vitiligo runs in families. Now, if your parent or grandparent had a specific autoimmune disease, you may be more likely to get that one than another. However, autoimmune disease isn’t so much passed down through genes as through environmental triggers.
Autoimmunity due to leaky gut: As stated above, vitiligo is often associated with other autoimmune disorders. If you already have an autoimmune disease, your chances of vitiligo may be increased.
Environmental factors: Exposure to specific environmental factors may trigger the onset or spread of vitiligo. These can include sunburn, stress, and chemical exposure. (5)
Neurological factors. Neurological factors may play a role in the development of vitiligo. People with certain neurological disorders have a higher incidence of the condition. (9)
Trauma: In some cases, vitiligo may develop in areas of skin that have been injured or traumatized. (10) This includes protein unfolding.

Not all people with these risk factors will develop vitiligo, and some people with the condition may not have any known risk factors.

Fireman Versus Carpenter

There are a few different approaches to healthcare. The fireman and carpenter is one of our favorite illustrations to show the differences between allopathic medicine and The Wellness Way approach. Learn more by watching this video:

How does mainstream medicine treat vitiligo?

The treatment of vitiligo in mainstream medicine involves managing symptoms. This includes reducing the spread of depigmentation and attempting to restore skin color. Some standard treatment options include:

Common Medications for Vitiligo

Anti-inflammatory creams like ruxolitinib or opzelura ointments can help reduce inflammation and re-pigment the skin.
Corticosteroids like prednisone are also often given.
Another class of medication used is calcineurin inhibitors, which work by suppressing the immune system.

Additional Therapies for Vitiligo

Phototherapy: Phototherapy is another standard treatment for vitiligo. Phototherapy involves exposing the affected skin to UV light. This can be done using a special lamp or by exposure to natural sunlight under controlled conditions. Phototherapy helps to stimulate the production of melanin in the skin. (11)
Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy: This is a combination of a medication called psoralen and exposure to UVA light, which can help restore skin color. This therapy is difficult to administer and has thus been widely replaced by narrowband UVB therapy. (12)
Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy: This type of light therapy can help restore skin color. (13)
Excimer laser therapy: This is a type of targeted light therapy that can help restore skin color. (14)
Depigmentation: In cases where other treatments are ineffective, a person may depigment the remaining skin. (15)

Surgical Procedures for Vitiligo

In more severe cases of vitiligo, surgical options may be considered. (16) These can include skin grafting or tattooing to replace or camouflage the depigmented skin.

Skin Grafting (17)
Tattooing (18)

It’s important to note that not all treatments work for everyone, and many treatments may have side effects or risks. Besides medical treatment, some people may benefit from counseling or support groups, as any disorder can affect mental health.

Your Body Doesn’t Make Mistakes

When “autoimmune disease” comes up, most people are under the impression that the immune system is making mistakes and attacking itself. That’s what we learn from doctors, books, and articles. However, that’s incorrect. Autoimmune disorders develop when the body makes antibodies against its tissues. There can be antibodies to the muscles, intestines, or other tissues.

Given its environment, the body is working as it’s supposed to. This adaptation to the environment stems from the body’s recalibration in order to sustain life after exposure to traumas, toxins, and (stressful) thoughts. This is true no matter what autoimmune condition you’re struggling with. An autoimmune reaction doesn’t mean your body is malfunctioning; it’s the body letting you know your immune system is stressed. This is also why many people may have more than one autoimmune disease. Your body reacts the same way—the right way—to different areas of concern.

The Wellness Way Approach

The Wellness Way thinks differently about conditions, especially autoimmune conditions like vitiligo. We always return to the three main contributing factors—traumas, toxins, and thoughts. (We call them the three T’s.) Mainstream medicine treats genetics as destiny. At the Wellness Way, we know that’s not true. Instead, the accumulation of daily stressors eventually “pulls the trigger,” creating dysfunction and dis-ease.

So, what causes vitiligo? As mentioned above, this is an autoimmune situation. Because it’s autoimmune, we must look at what’s triggering the immune response and causing destruction. Your goal should be to take the best care possible of your immune system, regardless of the autoimmune disease (celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s, etc.).

Traumas— Physical trauma, such as cuts, burns, or other injuries to the skin, can trigger the onset of vitiligo in some people. This reaction is understood to be due to the “Koebner response.” (19)
Toxins— Toxins are substances that can be harmful to the body. They can come from a variety of sources, including household products, (20) 4-TBP and 4-TBC, (21) and certain medications. (22) Some studies have found that people with vitiligo may have higher levels of certain toxins in their blood and tissues than those without the condition. (23)
Thoughts–Studies have shown stress to be a potential trigger for the onset or worsening of vitiligo. (24) (25) Stress can affect the immune system and trigger an autoimmune response. In addition, people with anxiety disorders are more likely to develop vitiligo. (26)

Vitiligo is a 3 T’s (trauma, toxins, or thoughts) problem–not a skin problem. Lower your overall stress to reduce the strain on your immune system and support healthy pigmentation.

Important Tests for Vitiligo

Vitiligo starts with the immune system, so that’s the best place to look for the contributing factors.

You can only restore your body’s function once you see what’s disrupting it. This is why testing is the first thing we do at The Wellness Way. Of course, which tests you take and when will depend on your unique physiology. Your Wellness Way practitioner can help you decide the best strategy for you.

Dietary Changes for Vitiligo

Cut sugar from your diet – Excess sugar contributes to inflammation. It also feeds infections and other imbalances.
Cut inflammatory foods from your diet
Personalized Nutrition, based on your food allergy test results
Organic, whole foods
Organ meats, sauerkraut, and microgreens for added nutrition.

Supplementation for Vitiligo

White Peony—White Peony is known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immune regulatory effects.
D3 & K2—In a 2013 study, Vitamin D3 was shown to have a significant effect on vitiligo. Of the 16 participants, 14 had 25-75% re-pigmentation by the end of the study.
Omega-3 fish oils—Omega-3 fatty acids have long been known to have an impact on both the innate and adaptive immune system.
Complete B-Complex—B vitamins have been connected with immune cell regulation.

Results of the above testing and your Wellness Way practitioner will dictate which supplements are best for you.

Complementary Therapies

Chiropractic: Remember to check your spine. Getting adjusted improves your immune system and releases physical stress on the body. (27)
Acupuncture: Acupuncture has been shown to help autoimmune diseases. (28)
Infrared Saunas: Infrared saunas have been shown to bring relief to people with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. (29)
Red Light Therapy: Photobiomodulation, or red light therapy, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. (30)

LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS FOR SKIN CONDITIONS

Remember how toxins in household products can lead to or exacerbate vitiligo? The good news is that all those products have cleaner versions, and you can always start somewhere! Begin to eliminate toxic household and personal care items.

Support your immune response by lowering your toxic burden. Gradually reducing the toxins your immune system has to deal with will support health restoration.

Every health challenge has more than one cause, especially when discussing individual immune responses. That’s why The Wellness Way does not use a one-size-fits-all approach. We don’t guess; we test! We take steps to support the body in resolving the issue only after the testing, and we know where to direct our attention.

Educational Resources for Skin Conditions

Videos and Webinars for Skin Conditions

Articles to Support Skin Conditions

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