Foods high in Vitamin C Along with zinc, Vitamin C too is important for the treatment of vitiligo. Vitamin C deficiency is common with many patients suffering with vitiligo. Citrus fruits like orange, lemons and grapefruits contain Vitamin C. Vitamin C is also found in strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers and broccoli.
Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids such as almond, walnuts, avocado and fatty fish forms a vital part of the vitiligo diet as it is known to improve blood circulation, prevent inflammation and trigger the immune system.
It is believed that vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, and a strong immune system can prevent the spread of the depigmentation. Fruits – Fig, apricot, and ripe mango.
There are not many details in literature regarding the dietary habits to be followed in vitiligo patients, usually sour food items like citrus fruits, milk products, pickle and others are discouraged[11].
Citrus fruits as oranges, items made of Citrus fruits , juices , lemon, curd, Raw Tomato, Raw garlic, Raw Onion, Tamarind, Brinjal, Pickles, Papaya, Grapes, Green chili, Pomegranate are strictly restricted. Fish, Red Meat is also restricted.
However, some tried diets that contain nutrient-dense foods can help prevent vitiligo symptoms. Bananas, apples, leafy greens like kale or lettuce, chickpeas, root vegetables like beetroot, carrot and radish, figs, and dates are all good options.
Protect your skin from the sun.
A bad sunburn can worsen vitiligo. If you have a lighter skin tone, there's another advantage to protecting your skin from the sun. Without a tan, the lighter spots and patches are often less noticeable.
According to the Vitiligo Speciality Clinic, there are certain foods that should be avoided to manage the symptoms of vitiligo. Juicy fruits rich in vitamin C like oranges and lemon, fermented foods like yogurt, alcohol and others like red meat, fish can cause the white patches to spread and worsen the condition.
Light therapy.
Phototherapy with narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB) has been shown to stop or slow the progression of active vitiligo. It might be more effective when used with corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors. You'll need therapy two to three times a week.
Fruits: Certain fruits like gooseberry, nectarine, orange, peach, pineapple, prune, lemon, melon, papaya, grapes, guava, pear, tamarind etc. contain a high amount of vitamin C. This vitamin C prevents the formation of pigments.
Antioxidant-rich foods may help prevent cellular damage and limit inflammation. Fruits, such as raspberries and strawberries, and vegetables, such as kale and spinach, are particularly rich sources of antioxidants.
A non-vegetarian diet, including meat, eggs, and dairy products, is a good source of Vitamin B12. The normal B12 consumption is 2.4 μg per day. Only fifty to sixty percent is absorbed [16,17]. Vitamin B12 has been shown to be useful for repigmentation in patients suffering from vitiligo.
Green tea is the go-to beverage when it comes to detoxifying the body and enhancing immunity. Surprisingly, it is used by Vitiligo patients too for treating their symptoms. This is based on facts and studies have confirmed that green tea is indeed beneficial for treatment of Vitiligo.
Pyrostegia venusta (also known as “cipó – de – são - joão”) is a herb of the family Bignoniaceae, widely distributed in southern Brazil, where topical formulations are commonly used for the treatment of vitiligo.
Natural sources of foods rich in carotenes which give apricots, melon, pumpkin, butternut squash, carrots tomatoes sweet potatoes, papaya, red and yellow peppers and mango their orange pigment, have been especially beneficial in vitiligo.
To the best of our knowledge, vitamin D significantly affects melanocytes and keratinocytes. Studies suggest that vitamin D3 increases tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in vitro [12], which may lead to repigmentation in vitiligo skin lesions.
Avoid junk foods: Studies have shown that children who have a habit of eating a lot of junk are at a high risk of developing vitiligo. Also a lot of intake of chocolates, cheese, and coffee is also not good for patients with vitiligo.
Topical steroids. Topical steroids come as a cream or ointment you apply to your skin. They can sometimes stop the spread of the white patches and may restore some of your original skin colour.
Treatment cannot cure vitiligo.
While researchers are looking for a cure, treatment cannot currently cure this disease. Treatment can help restore lost skin color, but the color (repigmentation) may fade over time. To keep their results, many patients have maintenance treatments.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease of the skin, which means that someone with vitiligo has an immune system that is malfunctioning in a small way. The normal role of the immune system is to protect you from infections and cancer.
We analyzed the mechanism of this folk prescription for vitiligo, concluding that the success of the self-treatment may be mainly associated with hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The antibacterial activity of pentathionic acid (H2S5O6) and the antioxidant activity of cucumber might also play a role in the treatment.
Conclusions: Addition of topical olive oil to NB-UVB for segmental vitiligo patients showed earlier occurrence of repigmentation and better pigmentation pattern.
There are several food items which helps in vitiligo spreading control. Beetroot & carrot are some of them. These helps in melanin binding & helps in stoppage of vitiligo.