Vitiligo: A Review and Homoeopathic Management

Abstract:

Vitiligo is a chronic disease characterised by loss of skin colour in patches because of disappearance of melanocytes in the affected area. This article deals with an overview of Vitiligo, including its etiological factors, pathogenesis, clinical patterns, clinical features and diagnosis along with homoeopathic management of the same, covering all three aspects namely organon, repertory and materia medica.

Keywords:

Vitiligo, autoimmune, genetic, homoeopathy.

Abbreviations:

Immunoglobulin (Ig), reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂₎

Introduction: Vitiligo is a chronic systemic acquired disease that has an unpredictable clinical course, characterised by the appearance of macules and achromic or hypochromic patches on the skin and mucous membranes due to the disappearance of melanocytes in the affected area. These lesions can appear in different shapes and sizes.¹Vitiligo has a pronounced impact on the physical and mental health of patients, including loss of skin photoprotection, compromised cutaneous immunity, and an appreciable reduction in quality of life².The disease affects both genders equally, it can appear at any age. The prevalence of vitiligo has been estimated between 0.5% to 1.13% in India.¹Vitiligo affects 1% of the general population, the risk of a patient’s sibling developing the disease is 6%, and for an identical twin 23% ³.

Site^.–Vitiligo patches can appear anywhere on the skin, but commonly affected sites include the area around the orifices, the genitals or any sun-exposed areas such as the face and hands. The hair and rarely, the eyes may also be affected.^4,5

Aetiology and precipitating factors-Exact aetiology is unknown and different patterns of vitiligo have different pathogenesis.^4,5

• Family history- 20% patients have positive family history.

• Autoimmune hypothesis –association with other autoimmune disorder.

Presence of antibodies to melanocytes.

Presence to lymphocytes.

• Trauma.

Vitiligo pathogenesis-.

The pathogenesis is complex and involves the interplay of multiple factors. The pathogenesis of vitiligo elaborated by several theories like the neural hypothesis, autoimmune hypothesis and biochemical theory⁶.

Neural theory– Segmental vitiligo is present along a dermatome in distribution of nerve  it has been hypothesised that a toxin which destroys melanocyte, is released at the nerve ending⁶.

The autoimmune hypothesis –According to this, vitiligo patients, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) against melanocytes were found , low levels IgA may also be found ⁶.

Biochemical Theory- reactive oxygen species model-Oxidative stress hypothesis suggests that imbalanced redox (reduction-oxidation) state of the vitiliginous skin. This results in the dramatic production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as H₂O₂. ROS oxidize components of the cell leading to melanocytes destruction and creating the depigmented macules⁶.

Patterns⁵–

1. Segmental vitiligo.
2. Non segmental vitiligo.
3. Localised:
4. Focal.
5. Mucosal.
6. Generalised:
7. Vulgaris.
8. Acrofacial.
9. Universalis

• Segmental vitiligo-It occurs most commonly in children. Most commonly (50%) seen in distribution of trigeminal nerve(mandibular division). Leucotrichia on the depigmented area as well as away from vitiliginous areas frequent.
• Focal vitiligo- Acquired, small, 1-2 hypopigmented/depigmented lesion.
• Mucosal vitiligo– It occurs on mucous membranes (oral, lips, genital, both male and female).
• Vitiligo vulgaris- Common type of vitiligo. It occurs after 2^nd decade, family history is present.
• Acrofacial vitiligo– vitiligo seen on face around eyes and on lips, ventral part of the hand and feet.
• Vitiligo universalis– widespread vitiligo with only few areas of normal pigmentation.

Clinical features⁵–

• Symmetrical, well defined, varied sized depigmented patches.
• Patchy loss of skin colour, which usually first appears on the hands, face, and areas around orifices.
• Premature whitening or graying of the hair on scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard.
• Loss of colour in the tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose (mucous membranes).

Diagnosis⁵– Diagnosis of vitiligo is usually clinical.

• Presence of depigmented macules (milky-white) with scalloped borders.
• Lecotrachia on affected area.
• Presence of Kobner’s phenomenon-New lesion of vitiligo at sites of trauma, appearing as linear depigmented macules.

Differential diagnosis⁵–

Nevus achromicus

• Pityriasis alba
• Leprosy.
• Tinea versicolor.
• Albinism.

                               HOMOEOPATHIC VIEWPOIN           T

1. Miasmatic diagnosis- Complete absence or diminution of melanocytes from the birth is due to syphilitic miasm and cure by anti-syphilitic medicine. Case with the function of melanocytes is defective it represent sycotic miasm. Secondary depigmentation during the cause of illness due to psora, sycosis and syphilis or an combination of two or three of them.^7,8,9

2. Repertorial approach– Vitiligo related rubrics are present in various commonly used repertories, which serves as a guide for selection of best simillimum.^10,11,12,13

Rubrics	Medicines	Repertory
SKIN – DISCOLORATION, – white	APIS ARS.calc. carb-v. Fl-ac. KALI-C.lac-c. sumb	Synthesis Repertory
SKIN – DISCOLORATION, – white – spots	Alum.am-c. ARS.Aur.Berb.Calc. carb-an. coca Merc.Nat-c.nit-ac. Phos. Sep. SIL. Sulph	Synthesis Repertory
SKIN – DISCOLORATION, – white	APIS ARS.calc. carb-v. Fl-ac. KALI-C.lac-c. sumb	Kent Repertory
Skin – VITILIGO-	sep.thuj.	Murphy Repertory
SKIN AND EXTERIOR BODY – Spots – white	ALUM.am-c. ARS.aur. calc. carb-an. nat-c. nit-ac. PHOS. SEP. SIL. SULPH.zinc	Boger Boenninghausen’s Characteristics & Repertory

Homoeopathic remedies for vitiligo^14,15,16.

1.Arsenicum album

Itching,burning, swellings; śdema, eruption, papular, dry, rough, scaly; worse cold and scratching. Worse, wet weather, after midnight; Better from heat.

2.Arsenicum sulphuratum flavum

Skin chafed about genitals. Leucoderma and squamous syphilides.

3.Calcarea carbonica

Unhealthy; readily ulcerating; flaccid. Small wounds do not heal readily. Glands swollen. Nettle rash; better in cold air. Warts on face and hands. Petechial eruptions. Chilblains. Boils.

4.Crotalus horridus

Swelling and discoloration, skin tense and shows every tint of color, with excruciating pain. Vesication. Sallow. Yellow color of the whole body. Great sensitiveness of skin of right half of body. 

5.Hydrocotyle asiatica

Dry eruptions. Great thickening of epidermoid layer and exfoliation of scales. Circular spots, with scaly edges. Intolerable itching, especially of soles. Profuse sweat. Syphilitic affections. Acne. Leprosy. Elephantiasis. Lupus non-exedens.

6.Lachesis mutus

Hot perspiration, bluish, purplish appearance Dark blisters. Bed-sores, with black edges. Blue-black swellings. Pyaemia; dissecting wounds.

7.Magnesium carbonicum

Earthy, sallow and parchment-like; emaciation. Itching vesicles on hands and fingers. Nodosities under skin. Sore; sensitive to cold.

8.Magnesium muriaticum 

Formication all over the body,

9.Natrium muriaticum

Greasy, oily, especially on hairy parts. Dry eruptions, especially over margin of hairy scalp and bends of joints. Crusty eruptions in bends of limbs, margin of scalp.

10.Sulphur

Dry, scaly, unhealthy; every little injury suppurates. Freckles. Itching, burning; worse scratching and washing. Pimply eruption, pustules, rhagades, hang-nails. Excoriation, especially in folds. Feeling of a band around bones. Skin affections after local medication. Pruritus, especially from warmth, is evening, often recurs in spring-time, in damp weather.

Discussion and conclusion- Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. It is an external expression on the skin due to internal dysfunction at the level of immune system. Homoeopathic medicine   are selected on basis of individualistic approach after the case taking in every case of vitiligo which is  based on affected area of vitiligo, spread of vitiligo, emotional, past history, family history, etc. There is no single specific remedy for all case of vitiligo. Homoeopathic medicine controls the spread of vitiligo  by stimulating the skin pigments to generate melanin and help to regain the normal skin color.

References:

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About the authors:

Dr Neha Mahawer, MD Scholar, Department of Materia Medica, Dr. M.P.K Homoeopathic Medical College, a constituent college of Homoeopathy University, Jaipur.

Dr Anjana Kumari, MD Scholar, Department of Organon of Medicine, Dr. M.P.K Homoeopathic Medical College, a constituent college of Homoeopathy University, Jaipur