Modern scientific medicine is based on strict standards that provide scientists with a structure within which testing and experimentation is limited. However, not all phenomenons are necessarily verifiable using this standard and several aspects of alternative medicine are simply outside the modern scientific model.

Let’s start with what should easily be verifiable by modern science. The result of a particular herb should be easily verifiable and should provide reliable results. Problem is, the tests often give different results and do not agree about efficacy of a specific herb. Why? This is where it gets a bit more complex.

In order to examine a specific herb for its medicinal properties and efficacy, the scientists must use the right species of herbs. This is easy to accomplish, however, there are some key differences in the same species, based on how and where it is grown, the time of the day and year it is harvested, the condition of the soil the herb was grown in and the different processing methods. But the modern scientists treat both the herbs as if they were same.

Scientists do not achieve consistent results because they are testing the same species but not the same quality of the herbal extract. Unless the scientists test the same thing there are strong chances of obtaining different results.

The early symptoms of vitiligo include a rapid loss of color pigment from several places in the skin. Initially these patches remain stable for some period without any progression; however, the shape and position of these sports do not remain always confined. It may progress with the passage of time and distribute in different patterns at various places of the body. In most cases, people develop vitiligo in quite early age; there are approximately, 95% people, who experience such loss of skin pigment in between the ages of 10 and 30 years.

Lecuderma or vitiligo does not follow any geological r or racial discrimination in its occurrence, it affects on all races and both sexes equally. About 1 to 2 % of the world’s population, or 40 to 50 million people are affected by this problem. In the United States, there are about 2 to 5 million people troubled by this skin disorder. According to a report of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is about 5 – 8 % population, of U.S.A, that is suffered with different kinds of autoimmune disorders among them vitiligo appear to be occurring more frequently than in past decades.

As it has been commonly noticed that vitiligo shows an influence on the emotions and psychology of vitiligo people. They remained all the time troubled by different feelings like; embarrassed, ashamed, depressed and emotional stress; which further lead them to bring a an alteration in their lifestyle and make them less active in social activities.

But these people should not lose their “Self-confidence” and try to focusing on the good qualities of their personality. They should “build up their self-esteem” and be “patience” while facing some intolerable remakes or rude attitude by other people; upon your decolored skin. “Humor” is another way of dealing with such sensitive situations and brings them out from a lot of psychological complexes.
Vitiligo people must try to find an experience dermatologist, who can treat them nicely and be able to provide an emotional support. A support from family and friends plays a very important role in treating with this chronic disease.

Vitiligo people should also meet and discuss with others people, suffered with vitiligo and must join some “Vitiligo Support Groups and Programs” as it may prove very beneficial for them to understand more about this problem.
“Vitiligo Guide” also provides some current information about the treatment of this cosmetic problem thus, vitiligo people should consult it.

According to some dermatologist, vitiligo happened due to an allergy in skin pigment cells, while others believed that, in this condition the malenosis skin cells destroy themselves while the production of new pigment cells. But the actual cause of this cosmetic skin problem is still unraveled and researches are still going on.

A lot of researches have been made in order to find out a acceptable and permanent treatment for the cure of this disease but is not a simple and straight forward task. But it does not mean to considered vitiligo as an obstacle in the way of achieving any personal or professional goals. It is a quite harmless skin disorder and is not infectious at all.

There are a lot of oral or topical vitiligo treatments and anti-vitiligo medicines that have made the cure of white patches defiantly possible and improve such repulsive skin condition. Beside these there are also various alternative treatments like; herbal remedies, phototherapy, PUVA, Laser technology and surgical methods; are available for vitiligo cure. The Vitiligo people can also stimulate pigment producing skin cells production by using multivitamin B-complex, Folic Acid, Vitamin E, Vitamin D ointment, fruits containing vitamin C and balanced diet.

These all vitiligo treatments are basically involve in restoring the function of the skin by producing more melanocytes in it. Every individual needs different vitiligo treatment, on the bases of size of white patches, its condition of effected area of skin.

It normally takes a time period of 6 to 18 months or even more for its better result. In many vitiligo cases, the condition shows improvement just by the application of local treatment like; cosmetic camouflage creams, makeup, or self-tanning lotions and taking self.

It’s all depends on us, what treatment we decide to take for coping with it. However, a person suffered with vitiligo should always choose any vitiligo treatment after noticing the number, size and location of the white patches in effected skin. Vitiligo people should try to have more than one treatment before finding the one that works best for their skin. If selected treatment shows no response, then it is declared as useless. But, it is not wise to switch off any treatment without giving it an appropriate time.

While choosing a topical treatment, one should always try to find a good dermatologist for UV or Laser therapies depending on condition of skin response.

Medical treatments for vitiligo basically, aim to even out the patient’s skin tone, either by restoring skin natural color (pigment) or by destroying the remaining skin color. But these treatments are not always necessary.

There are diseases that increase the skin color and there are diseases that reduce the skin color. Diseases that cause reduction of skin color are call hypo pigmentation. Here is a short list for these.

• Vitiligo : This is the most common autoimmune diseases which cause de pigmented patches. Vitiligo is the most noticeable and wide spread skin disease.

• secondary leucoderma : This occurs due to certain chemicals phenol derivatives
• Post inflammatory hypo pigmentation : It happens after the healing phase of psoriasis, eczemas.

• Pityriasis alba : this is often observed on the face and usually in young children in winter.

• Pityriasis versicolor : It is a fungal infection caused by ‘pityrosporum orbiculare’ which is a type of yeast.

• Leprosy : It is a chronic disease affecting mainly the skin and nerves. It is curable with drugs.

• Nevus depigmentosus : these are the hypo pigmented patches that are present at birth.

Pityriasis Alba

Pityriasis-Versicolor

Leprosy

Nevus Depigmentosus

Skin has a very complicated and an extraordinary structure. It gets damaged frequently, when it came in direct with sun light or UV radiations and victimized by several skin problems. Recently, skin diseases have become very common health problem for the whole population. There are almost 73% of human beings that are troubled by different forms of skin disease and are busy in seeking some appropriate treatments for them.

There are about more then 3000 known skin diseases, which do not follow any geographical restriction and spread their infections. However, there are some variations have been observed in the distributing patterns and occurring frequencies of these diseases are different in different skin types.

A general household survey of 1978 showed that there were approximately 0.34% of human population that was suffered with different chronic skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema and vitiligo etc. Similarly, the skin’s problem survey conducted in 1989 reported that, there is about 32% of the population; that were suffered with different skin disorders. Another general survey of skin problems among school going children showed that there were 31.3% students (in every 1006 students) those suffered with different forms of skin disorder.

A study of USA’s community and report of Lambeth investigators showed that USA is at third of world population which is troubled by a number of skin problems. There are 55% skin patients in UK community among them only 22.5% people are getting medical treatments. Each year approximately US$39.3 billion budget is spends by UK Government for its medical service; which is a great productivity loss.

In short, there is no doubt; any cosmetically disfiguring or disorder must produce a significant effect on skin look and causes some considerable discomfort and disability in its texture. Some incurable skin diseases; like psoriasis, eczema, malignant melanoma, and vitiligo must raise some substantial mortality in people. Among these skin disorders vitiligo is much chronic skin disease as still today, its cause is unpredictable and the way of its treatment is not straight forward.

Thus skin diseases are now considered as a major health problem and are producing a considerable burden on our quality of life. The term “burden of skin disease” has multidimensional concept and can be defined as the effects of the disease on the overall welfare of human population. This term also encompasses the psychological, social and financial effects, of skin diseases; not only on a single patient but also on his family and community.

Although many chronic skin problems like; Atopic Eczema, Psoriasis, and Vitiligo are not life-threatening and do not have any harmful affect on daily activities; but they case a considerable burden on our health and quality of life.

By putting it in net shell, I would like say that the main object of this collected informatory data is to realize the height and magnitude of the burden of these commonly founded skin diseases to the people, so that a solution of this burden on Quality of Life can be determine and improve.

In such condition a lack of circulating melanocytes stimulating hormone (MSH) results in Pituitary failure and acquires hypo-melanosis. The localized hypo-pigmentation may also be happened due to a partial or complete loss of melanin (A pigment producing cells).
The main diagnoses of hypo-pigmentary congenital disorder are:
1. Pityriasis Alba.
2. Pityriasis Versicolor.
3. Post inflammatory Hypo-pigmentation.
4. Vitiligo or Lecuderma.
5. Scarring.
6. Lichen sclerosus. ( a long-term problem skin, mostly appear on genital and anal areas)
7. Leprosy.

Pityriasis Alba: It is a common skin condition & is a mild childhood form of eczema; which is usually characterized by dry, fine-scaled & pale patches on the face. This is a self-limiting skin problem, but can be easily treat by the application of any moisturizing creams.

During Pityriasis Alba, we found a lack of active melanocytes in the skin; such condition also makes a decrease in number and size of melanosomes (an organelle containing melanin) in affected area for unknown reasons.

Hypo-pigmented Pityriasis Versicolor: Pityriasis Versicolor is a skin disease which happens due to the Malassezia Furfur (a normal inhibitor of the skin and hair follicles of individuals at puberty and beyond), and results in pale scaly plaques. It is a chronic recurring superficial yeast infestation of the skin; appears when Malassezia got its overgrowth in favorable conditions.
Vitiligo:
A common condition causing loss of skin pigmentation; Vitiligo is a condition which causes white patches to develop on the skin. Any body part can be affected; most of the people with vitiligo do have many white patches in many areas of the body.

Post-inflammatory Hypo-pigmentation: It is a coetaneous disease and is characterized by decreased pigment in the skin, which results in skin inflammation. Post-inflammatory Hypo-pigmentation may be macular, superficial burns or eczema, when it happens as a result of dermal injury with scarring.

Hypo-Pigmentation

It has also been noticed that, people with a darker complexion have more natural protection to sun burn, skin cancer and photo damage, then individuals having fair and skinned skin complexion; because of, the packing difference of pigmented molecule (melanin) and its actual amount in the skin of the people with different ethnic backgrounds.

Naturally, the people with very dark skin complexion (black) have high levels of melanin and a very high protection than the brown skinned people of Asians or people of mixed race.

One should take more care in intense sunlight, especially in hotter regions, because excessive exposure to the sun light causes thickening of the skin leading to wrinkles and premature ageing in people with different color race. The sun stroke also causes eyes damage and this effect of bright sun light is same for everyone.
For vitiligo patients, seeking tanning after applying psoralen agents, people with skin type 1,2,3 should take extreme cars as they have high chances of burning.

Type 1

White skin or fair skin

Type 2

White skin with light hair

Type 3

White skin and brown Hair

Type 4

Brown to dark Skin

Type 5

Black-brown Skin

Type 6

Brown to dark Skin

Although, PUVA is the main therapy for its treatment but it is a time-consuming, expensive, and only moderately effective therapy. Recently, in a vitiligo study, some isolated small vitiligo patches have been treated by punch grafts; Autologous cultured keratinocytes and melanocyte suction graft and blister epidermal grafts, in order to, varying the effectiveness of each treatment for vitiligo.

For this purpose, a thin epidermal sheet was taken from the buttocks by the application of Zimmer air dermatome. This 0.1mm thick sheet was then grafted onto superficially derma braded depigmented skin of 19 patients with vitiligo and 1 with piebaldism. After that this wound was remained cover with saline-soaked gauze for one week.

Finally, it came to know that, thin split-thickness skin grafts can be added to the list of other keratinocytes and melanocytes transfer procedures. Because, after 4 – 8 months, 64% of grafted sites achieved 95% to 100% repigmentation, 18% achieved 50% to 70% repigmentation, and 18% achieved 20% or less repigmentation. This technique had surprisingly, shown a successful rate of repigmentation.

But unfortunately, this therapy is only useful for people with piebaldism or stable vitiligo; as a complete repigmentation was only observed in them. The successful rate of this technique can be improved by combining it with PUVA or sun exposure.

Recently, investigators have find Narrowband UVB treatment for vitiligo. It proved more effective and safer vitiligo treatment then PUVA. The efficiency of this therapy has also been verified by a randomized double-blind trial.

During this trial, investigators formed two groups of vitiligo patients (having 25, 25 people in each group respectively). Then they applied PUVA & Narrowband UVB therapies on each group and compared the result of these most popular forms of vitiligo treatments. Finally, they concluded; NB-UVB therapy is much batter then PUVA. A number of other reports have also shown the successful rate of this treatment with surgical repigmentation procedures, as well.

Treating Vitiligo with PUVA vs Narrowband UVB