Vitiligo & Prevailing Myths by Naturopath Kee

Vitiligo and Prevailing Myths By Naturopath Kee

Vitiligo Treatment Store

Myth: My doctor says I should avoid the sun.

Response:  Sunshine is good for your general health and good for your vitiligo. Avoiding the sun robs you of life sustaining properties needed to sustain life and health. Studies show that people with vitiligo are at no higher risk of cancers than the general population. Further, vitiligo skin is protected from deadly melanoma, because the melanocytes are not producing melanin. Melanin is necessary to produce melanoma. The dangers of using sunblocks, as opposed to sunscreens is, you’re at higher risk of certain cancers, your skin is not able to make vitamin D3, you lose the benefit of mood enhancing endorphins and you’re encouraging your skin to lighten when avoiding the sun. Those UV blocking clothing are equally dangerous and useless. If you burn easily, wear a hat and cover up with light colored clothing that filter, not block the sun.

Myth: People with vitiligo should avoid citrus, apple cider vinegar and fermented foods.

Response: People with vitiligo need citrus, apple cider vinegar and other fermented foods to help aid sluggish digestion and to encourage healthy stomach acid levels.

Myth: Spicy foods worsen vitiligo.

Response: Spicy foods like peppers actually encourage circulation and blood flow, which benefits people with vitiligo. Spices are nature’s medications. They actually serve several healing purposes, including ensuring oxygen, nutrients and red blood cells getting to those dormant melanocytes to help stimulate pigmentation.

Myth: Vitiligo cells, or melanocytes, are dead.

Response: Melanocytes in those with vitiligo are not dead. The cells are dormant.

Myth: Protopic, Elidel, steroid creams and other immune-suppresant drugs “cure” vitiligo.

Reponse: Immune suppressing drugs are like dams that keep water from flowing. These drugs suppress the immune system so that it does not work at all, which may provide temporary relief in the form of regaining color; however, most of my clients who have tried immune suppressing drugs tend to have far more vitiligo that those who have not suppressed their immune responses. On the other hand, clients who have not used immune suppressing drugs tend to regain pigment easier and they tend to retain the color gained, when following the lifestyle changes and vitiligo regimen.