| Vitiligo, also known as leucoderma,
is a relatively common skin disorder, in which white spots or patches
appear on the skin. These spots are caused by destruction or weakening
of the pigment cells in those areas, resulting in the pigment being
destroyed or no longer produced. In most cases, vitiligo is believed
to be an autoimmune-related disorder. In vitiligo, only the colour
of the skin is affected but texture and other skin qualities remain
normal. The hair may also turn white that grows in areas affected
by vitiligo.
It occurs when the melanocytes, cells responsible
for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function. The precise
cause of vitiligo is complex
and not fully understood. There is some evidence suggesting it is
caused by a combination of auto-immune,
genetic, and environmental
factors.
CAUSES
·
Exact cause is not known.
·
Evidence points to autoimmune etiology.
·
Genetic predisposition is common.
·
Age: onset between 10-30 years.
CLINICAL FEATURES
ONSET
LOCATION
- Common sites, to start with, are pressure points,
i.e. knuckles, elbows, lips.
SYMPTOMS
LESION
- Start as white localised macules.
- Rounded, well defined at onset.
- Adjacent lesions coalesce.
- As they increase in size, become irregular.
- Spread to involve greater parts of the body.
- Depigmented lesion is surrounded by area of
apparent hyper pigmentation.
- No sensory loss in lesion.
- Every little trauma heals with depigmentation.
- Lesions are hypersensitive to sunlight.
DIAGNOSIS
·
Clinical.
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
·
Reassurance.
·
Treat associated disorder.
·
If iatrogenic, identify & withdraw
offending agent.
·
Avoid physical trauma.
·
Adequate mental rest.
·
Improve general health.
Homeopathic Treatment
Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic
treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological
condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing
examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history
of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic
tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into
account for the treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given
below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete
and definite guide to the treatment of this condition. The symptoms
listed against each medicine may not be directly related to this
disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional
indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy.
To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit
our Materia Medica
section. None of these medicines should be taken without professional
advice.
Homeopathic Remedies
BOERICKE- SKIN- LEUCODERMA.
- Ars.alb.
- Ars.sulph.flavum.
- Bacillinum.
- Graphites.
- Merc sol.
- Nat.mur.
- Nit.acid.
- Nux vom.
- Phos.
- Sep.
- Sil.
- Sulph.
- Thuja.
Bacillinum
The patient is suffer from chronic cold, cough
& occasional history of haemoptysis. He has loss in weight,
loss of appetite, flat chested young boys & girls, prominent
ribs & prominent clavicles. We get history of asthma, pneumonia,
bronchitis & even T.B. in patients.
A Maceration of a Typical Tuberculous Lung Mind.
Taciturn, sulky, snappish, fretty, irritable, morose, depressed
and melancholic even to insanity. Fretful ailing, whines and complaints;
mind given to be frightened particularly by dogs.
Graphites
Obese patient with a history of suppressed itch.
Suited to - Excessive cautiousness; timid, hesitates;
unable to decide about anything. Fidgety while sitting at work.
Sad, despondent; music makes her weep; thinks of nothing but death.
Merc sol.
There is history of dysentery with mucus &
blood. Jaundice with liver enlargement. These patients are worst
at night with salivation & have a syphilitic miasm. They perspire
in bed & do not tolerate too hot or too cold climate.
Nervous affections after suppressed discharges
especially in psoric patients. Glandular and scrofulous affections
of children.
Nit. Acid
White spots are found at the muco-cutaneus junction.
More at the angle of the mouth, eyes, nose, nipples, glans penis,
vulva, etc. Along with it, there may be fissure at the same spot.
In some of the patients along with this there is a desire for eating
chalk, pencils, etc., particularly in children.
Sepia
Best acted in females. Beside the usual white
discolouration, these patients have irregular menses either early
or late, scanty & painful menses in young girls. Leucorrhoea,
prurites, dysparunia, & frigidity is noted. Most of the patients
complain of morning sickness along with motion sickness, nausea,
vomiting or headache travelling in a car or bus. These patients
are not social, they prefer to be alone.
Adapted to persons of dark hair, rigid fibre,
but mild and easy decomposition.
Sulphur
There is a history of suppression of skin diseases
or any other suppression like suppressed diarrhoea, dysentery, jaundice,
typhoid & in tropics many other fevers. There is heat in the
palms, soles, eyes, anus, vulva, vagina & on the top of the
head. Generally hot patient but could be chilly. Irritability &
obstinacy is also noted.
Adapted to persons of a scrofulous diathesis,
subject to venous congestion; especially of portal system. Persons
of nervous temperament, quick motioned, quick tempered, plethoric,
skin excessively sensitive to atmospheric changes. For lean, stoop-shouldered
persons who walk and sit stooping like old men. Standing is the
worst position for sulphur patients; they cannot stand; every standing
position is uncomfortable. Dirty, filthy people, prone to skin affections.
Aversion to being washed; always <. after a bath.
Thuja
There is history of vaccination. There is dreams
of falling, startling in sleep, have warts on face or on the body,
with loss of appetite after vaccination. There is history of tuberculosis
or respiratory diseases.
Adapted to hydrogenoid constitution of Grauvogl.
Acts well in lymphatic temperament, in very fleshy persons, dark
complexion, black hair unhealthy skin. Ailments from bad effects
of vaccination; from suppressed or maltreated gonorrhoea. Fixed
ideas: as if a strange person were at his side; as if soul and body
were separated; as if a living animal were in abdomen; of being
under the influence of a superior power.
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