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Ayurvedic Solution for Leucoderma

Appearance of chalk colour macules characterises leucoderma “The more we can get people engaged in understanding what vitiligo is, the better it is for those who are living with it”. “25th June” -The world "Vitiligo Day" A collective effort for extensive global vitiligo/leucoderma awareness helps to ease the psychological effect of vitiligo & to relieve majority of people going through misery and silent pain. This initiative will help to ease all the misunderstandings of general public, underestimations of both the public and medical community and at same time improve the quality of life, self esteem as well as self confidence of patient. What causes leucoderma : It could be accidental as a cut, burn or an ulcer. There are mostly three theories about the underlying mechanism of vitiligo. However the cause of vitiligo could be improper hygiene, inappropriate food combinations and regular junk foods. Insecticide & pesticide treated green vegetable intake regularly. Past history of jaundice or typhoid fever, harsh antibiotic use etc. One important cause of leucoderma could be sudden emotional trauma, stress.  

1. Nerve ending in skin releases a chemical that is toxic to melanocytes.
2. Melanocytes are simply destroyed by themselves.
3. Vitiligo is a type of auto immune disease in which immune system destroys body cells an tissues including the melanocytes cells that produce melanin pigment get damaged. Due to this damage the pigmentation gradually disappears from affected area & skin becomes white, resulting into a white patch.
 
 
What exactly leucoderma is?
Vitiligo and leucoderma are two different terms used for same skin disease. Basically leucoderma is Latin word which literally means “white patch” .
In modern medicine- leucoderma is a cutaneous condition, with localized loss of pigmentation.
Why it happens?
It generally happens due to absence of melanin pigmentation over skin. Wisely called a ‘disorder’ as no pain and symptoms can be found in vitiligo or leucoderma.
So it can not be termed as a disease. It may start with small spot which later enlarge into a white patch. It may be pale in colour initially but gradually it turns white with time due to complete loss of melanin pigmentation over affected areas.
How it develops?
Due to one reason or all reasons toxic substance is formed inside human immune system & disturbed immune system reaches to a condition of autoimmunity (a condition in which immune system of body destroy its own cells and tissue). Autoimmunity is basic important reason of leucoderma according to modern medicine.
Where?
Around the lips, trunk, extensor surfaces, flexor, wrist, axilla are main areas.
 
 
Causes according to Ayurveda
1. Intake of mutually contraindicated food and drinks that are liquid and heavy.
2. Suppression of natural urges
3. Performance of physical exercise after intake of heavy meal & in excess heat season.
4. Karmic causes are disrespect to elders, saints & God.
5. Regular stress & sudden trauma.
 
Treatment:
1. Mansheeladi lepa is used in shivitra.
2. Bael fruit is traditionally used to treat this condition.
3. Psoralea corylifolia (Bakuchi) is renewed herb and is rich source of naturally occurring Psoralen. It sensitizes human skins to tanning effect of UV and sunlight.
4. Hartala is also used to treat immuno related disorders. It is also used to evaluate symptoms of vitiligo
5. Shvitra yoga and Jyotishmati tailam is also popularly used in vitiligo.
6. Kapalbhati and Pranayam is used to reduced stress and useful in case of stress causing vitiligo
7. Milk intake is to be lowered.
 
Management:
1. Photochemotherapy: Topically applied or systemically administered psoralens are combined with UV-A (PUVA) is effective in early stage of vitiligo. PUVA. Photochemotherapy stimulates melanin synthesis and this provides the rationale for its use in depigmenting diseases vitiligo.
2. Oral - Methoxy psoralen & UV-A appears to be most effective in the regard, but as many as 100 treatments extending over 12 to 18 month may be required to promote satisfactory pigmentation. According to American vitiligo research foundation main modern method of treating vitiligo symptoms.
3. Sun screens: Simpliest option is use of sunscreen products (advanced) with sun-protection factor of atleast 30  to protect your unpigmented skin. Sun screens of this strength will stop any skin reddening & protect your skins cell’s DNA from sun damage.
4. Make up of micro pigmentations: A second modern treatment option is use of makeup to hide vitiligo’s characteristic white patches. If you normal skin tone is dark, you may also gains relief by micro pigmentation or tattooing.
5. Skin color restoration treatment: certain topical corticosteroids creams can be used to gradually darken skin tone. These techniques give results within two to three months. If vitiligo is limited to small spots, one may be benefited with topical applications of oxsoralens. Since this compound makes skin highly light sensitive, its use is generally restricted to supervised treatment in dermatologist’s clinic.
6. Surgery: Patients may also undergo mini-graph surgery to transplant normally pigmented cells to areas afflicted with vitiligo.
7. Depigmentation: Another option is use of topical cream menobenzene ether of hydroquinone that removes pigmentation from normal skin cells.
8. Experimental treatment—MKTP transplantation: This technique involves the application of a gel containing pigmented cells (melanocytes) grown in the lab from an individual healthy skin. Another future treatment combines the use of piperine, a chemical found in black pepper with UV light.
 
Ayurvedic view: Leucoderma is considered as ‘Shivitra’ or ‘Kilas’: A type of kustha which is difficult to cure, a pigmentation disorder of skin involving all three doshas. When doshas are collected in blood, then leucoderma is red in colour. When doshas are collected in muscles then copper in colour & when in fat it attains white colour.
 
Features of curable leucoderma: Leucoderma in which hair is not of red colour, thin, should not be chronic.
Features of incurable leucoderma: When spots of leucoderma meet gradually to each other and hair upon them become red in colour. Leucoderma which is from many years is incurable.
 
Although hereditary condition which is almost 20-30% is also attached as the cause of vitiligo but this is not certain that all kids of vitiligo person develop vitiligo. Several families can be found normal despite of family history of vitiligo.
 

CASE REPORT:

Name : Mrs. Kavita
Age : 40/Fmale
Husband Name : W/o Late Amar Singh
Address : 18, SBLS Nagar, Jalandhar.
Mobile : 8054925869
 
Patients came with complaint of  white sports of leucoderma on face, back and front of hands and feet with itching on 7th June 2011 in Dayanand Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Jalandhar.
 
Diagnosis: On the basis of clinical evaluation patients was diagnosed leucoderma on 30 percent area of body.
Patients came with complaint of  white sports of leucoderma on face, back and front of hands and feet with itching on 7th June 2011 in Dayanand Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Jalandhar. Diagnosis: On the basis of clinical evaluation patients was diagnosed leucoderma on 30 percent area of body. Treatment:
 
Treatment: In department of Panchkarma of Dayanad Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Snehan, Vaman and virechan was given to patient followed by Ayurvedic herbs Bakuchi, Giloye, Neem, Haridra & Triphala.
Result: After three months of treatment patient totally free from itching and white patches of leucoderma 
 
 
1. Dr. Sanjeev Sood is Prof. and Head of Panchakarma Department, Dayanand Ayurvedic College, Jalandhar. Visiting faculty to EISRA-Holland, ICAU-Belgium and Medicarom-Romania.
+ 91 9814004142, drsanjeevsood@yahoo.com
 
2. Internee in Dayanand Ayurvedic College, Jalandhar.

 

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