In vitiligo, there occur patches of discolored skin which usually get bigger with time. Skin on any part of the body may get affected in this condition even affecting the hair and inside the mouth. The color of hair and skin is produced by a pigment called melanin. In vitiligo, the cells that produce melanin start dying or stop functioning.
Who is at greater risk of developing vitiligo?
This condition can occur in people with any skin type but it is more generally seen in black or brown people. This is not a life-threatening condition but it makes you feel bad about your looks. Those areas of your skin that get deep pigmented and are less than 1 cm wide are called macules while those larger than 1 cm are called patches. People who have certain autoimmune diseases like arthritis, thyroid, type 1 diabetes, lupus, etc are at greater risk of developing vitiligo.
Onset and Progress of Vitiligo
It starts with a few small white patches which spread all over the body. It mainly starts in your hands, forearms, feet, & face and then starts developing in other parts of your body. In some people, there occurs only a few depigmented areas while others may experience a much greater loss of skin colour.
Vitiligo Treatment
Dermatologists recommend only three regimens to treat this condition
- Medication
- Light Therapy
- Surgery
Sometimes, some diet changes may also help to manage this condition. There are no particular foods that can treat vitiligo but including foods that cure inflammation may help up to a certain extent. Such foods are listed under.
- Walnuts
- Whole grains
- Fruits
- Chia seeds
- Sardines
- Mackerel
- Seaweeds
7 Foods to Avoid with Vitiligo
Below are some foods that come under vitiligo diet restrictions that we need to avoid.
- Soda (Emulsifiers)
- Wheat
- Spelt
- Barley
- Processed meat
- White Bread
- Citric Fruits
7 Dietary Considerations In Vitiligo
- People suffering from vitiligo must avoid foods and fruits rich in vitamin C or ascorbic acid because this can lead to the widening of patches
- Turmeric must be avoided as it leads to depigmentation. It should not be even applied over the skin.
- Drinking water from copper bottles is considered helpful as it helps in the deposition of pigment.
- Consumption of vegetarian food sources rich in vitamin D3 and B12 helps return the lost pigment of the skin.
- Omega 3 fatty acids-rich food and supplements must be avoided completely as it triggers vitiligo.
- Foods rich in copper e.g., figs and dates are also helpful in treating vitiligo
- Milk and milk product intake should be lessened, also any edible item laid by incorporation of soda bicarb should be avoided. Similarly, food items that taste sour e.g., canned foods or drinks, junk food, fermented food, chocolates, and coffee should not be consumed regularly.
Vitiligo Food Diet Plan
Vitiligo is a medical condition that is more or less treatable with medicines or light therapy but consuming the right quantity of anti-inflammatory foods and including some dietary modifications in your daily diet can also help in managing this condition to some extent. Let us chalk out the possible vitiligo diet chart for a complete day for vitiligo patients.
- Early morning: Cumin Tea (Soak 1 Tsp Black Cumin In 200 Ml Water Overnight. Next Day Warm The Water And Consume Empty Stomach) + Nuts (Soaked And Peeled)
- Breakfast: Sprouts chilla
- Mid-morning: A glass of coconut water with moringa powder
- Lunch: Roti/rice with kidney beans curry and pumpkin raita
- Evening snack: 1 small glass of Pomegranate Juice
- Dinner: Pumpkin Soup with Chickpea Salad
Disease Management Program at Fitness with Nidhi
As for now, we have gathered a very clear picture that vitiligo is not a communicable disease but an autoimmune disorder that occurs when our immune system attacks our melanocytes. But still, there is a misconception among many of us that this condition spreads by contact with the affected person. Due to this perception of society, vitiligo sufferers express a lower willingness to compete & less confidence to face their peers.
To bring back vitiligo sufferers into the mainstream with their self-esteem, awareness of our society regarding the cause behind this problem is needed. Moreover, the symptoms can be easily managed by following a disease management diet plan at Fitness with Nidhi.
