Vitamin B12 has been shown to be useful for repigmentation in patients suffering from vitiligo. Folic acid (or vitamin B9) has been proven to be significant for treating vitiligo.
Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid
This is why it is always recommended to take these two vitamins together in order to treat vitiligo. According to some scientific studies, a combination of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation and sun exposure is a good strategy to regain natural skin color.
A significant body of data suggests that vitamin D3 has a strong immunosuppressive activity and its low levels are associated with autoimmune conditions including vitiligo [6].
It is generally recommended that people with vitiligo keep their vitamin D levels in the mid-upper range of normal. One study suggests that a high-dose vitamin D therapy may be safe and effective in reducing vitiligo activity.
It is also an important coenzyme in the reactions of melanin synthesis. It has been suggested that zinc supplements are a beneficial adjuvant therapy for patients with vitiligo. This theory is based on zinc's proposed ability to protect melanocytes via antiapoptotic and antioxidant properties.
Cutaneous manifestations associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes.
Some traditional antioxidants for the treatment of vitiligo include pseudocatalase, vitamin E, coenzyme Q α-lipoic acid, and zinc [10, 12, 13]. Although these antioxidants have certain curative effects, their effect is limited, targeting is not robust, and many treatment methods lack evidence-based data.
Vitamin C is not used and is contraindicated in treating vitiligo as it disrupts the melanin production pathways [21]. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that absorbs substances like calcium and magnesium.
Scientists believe that vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the melanocytes. In addition, researchers continue to study how family history and genes may play a role in causing vitiligo.
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.
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.
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.
Nutrient deficiencies may be why the autoimmune process triggers vitiligo, so eat a nutritious diet with lean meats, healthy fats such as oily fish and extra virgin olive oil, an abundance of vegetables, shellfish, and seaweeds.
In another study of people with vitiligo, oral supplementation with folic acid (10 mg per day) and vitamin B12 (2,000 mcg per day), combined with sun exposure, resulted in some repigmentation after three to six months in about half of the participants.
What causes vitiligo? Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. This type of disease develops when your immune system attacks part of your own body. If you have vitiligo, your immune system attacks cells in your body called melanocytes. These are cells that make pigment.
New cohort analysis data suggest the risk of COVID-19 death is about 38% decreased among patients with the autoimmune disease.
As non-segmental vitiligo is closely associated with other autoimmune conditions, you may be assessed to see whether you have any symptoms that could suggest an autoimmune condition, such as: being tired and lacking energy (signs of Addison's disease) being thirsty and needing to urinate often (signs of diabetes)
A diet for vitiligo should also include foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and seeds, as these have anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce the inflammation that contributes to the development of vitiligo.
According to Healthline, foods like bananas, apples, radish, carrots, chickpeas, figs and dates can be helpful in preventing vitiligo.
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.
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.
ADAPTIVE IMMUNE ACTIVATION
In vitiligo, adaptive immune activation is responsible for killing melanocytes specifically, leaving other cells in the vicinity untouched (Figure 6). It's also a major player in melanocyte destruction in 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.