One of the first things I tell people that have been diagnosed with vitiligo is that there may be a vitiligo correlation between a gluten intolerance and the spread of their disease. Do I have proof? No.
But I strongly suspect that food allergies contribute to the worsening of vitiligo even if food allergies are not the direct cause.
Food allergies are something that can be tested and demonstrated. If you have vitiligo, find out if you have food allergies. Don’t cause problems if you don’t have to.
Will going gluten free cure your vitiligo? Perhaps not. But, I have noticed that when I eat particularly clean, spend time in the sun and drink very little alchohol or none at all, my pigment comes back in those spots exposed to the sun. It’s slow and my vitiligo expands in other areas but I am encouraged to see repigmentation of any kind.
Other vitiligo correlations:
- Correlation between thyroid problems and vitiligo: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19874359
- Correlation between vitamin D deficiency and vitiligo: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23300773
Fantastic blog Keith!
I’m relatively new to vitiligo, so still learning about the condition and I’m spurred on by a friend who has just started to suffer from the affliction.
I’m building a website around the condition and hope to expand into other skin ailment conditions as well, because I suffer from eczema, so I’m also finding all this research quite cathartic.
Ciao
Dena
Thanks Dena,
I too found research to be encouraging and cathartic. You find hope in all the research somehow.
Let me know when you website is off the ground. Maybe you can do a guest post here about eczema. I am sure people here would appreciate knowing that there are other diseases that are even worse than vitiligo.
– Keith
I was diagnosed with Celiac disease when I was 5 years old and am now almost 31. Even though I stick to a gluten free diet, I began developing vitiligo around the age of 22, mostly on my hands. My physician has told me that there is a strong correlation between Celiac and vitiligo because they are both auto-immune diseases, and when you have one auto-immune disease, you are much more susceptible to developing more. I am fair skinned, so in the winter time, my vitiligo is barely noticeable. In the summertime, however, it becomes much more visible. I try my hardest to keep my hands out of the sun & to apply sunblock as often as possible, but it is very difficult.
I’m curious whether or not you (or anyone else) has considered the XTRAC excimer laser treatment system? I was looking it up today and am considering making an appointment with a dermatologist to find out more about it.
Hey!
I have heard about the excimer laser and I hear good things.
Have not done it myself but I think it produces results for many people.
All the best and let us know how things go for you!
– Keith
Hi, I have done laser treatments for the past six years. Slowly but surely, I am seeing freckled spots come back on my elbow and wrist only. No progress on my hands and fingers. However, other patients that go into the dermatologist office that I go to are having positive results as well. I highly recommend it
My name is Joe and I am 51, I have had Vitiligo for more than 30 yrs at one time covering more than 35% of my body, I don’t know if it has anything to do with Gluten but one thing that has helped me is I bought and Utra Vilot tanning unit like the one you find in a doctors office, this unit uses utra vilot B light I use it 3 minutes 3 days per week, I have been using it for 4 yrs and I would say my Vitiligo has improved, I would say I now have it in 8% of my body.
its not a cure but it will help and I know others that have has same results using the light system
I am 19 years old college student, been diagnosed with Vitiligo from i was 13 years old in high school, at first they were small white patches now they have become bigger, I’ve been on a diet but its only becoming worst now and at times i wonder when this will disease will go away. i’m here doing research about this skin disease.
Hey Shantol,
Thanks for stopping by and letting us know whats going on.
Am glad you are doing research its empowering.
I am on a restricted diet now:
No sugar
No alchohol
No gluten
No animal protein
I feel like is working but it will take time to really know how well its working.
Keep moving forward!
– Keith
HI I’m a 28 year old woman from India. I’ve had vitiligo for almost 20 years! I’ve vitiligo in my hands ,toes and face.It was quiet stable till i went to work. I’ve almost exhausted various treatment options from traditional Indian medicines to alopathy,homeopathy.They might ve helped to slow down the rate of spread but did not stop it entirely or help regain the colour. I too used to be depressed and conscious like mad.My emotional stress became so high that i fell ill ,lost weight,had body aches all over due to severe depression.I became home bound ,quit my job as my vitiligo flared up and was rejected in the marriage market!.All this helped me to gain perspective in life.We r so obsessed with ourselves.That is the problem not vitiligo. We ask “why me?”.Its the worst question u could as urself. When we realize almost everyone and everything(animals,plants now the whole planet!) is suffering we learn that our condition is not that bad.so embrace urself people.
There is a way of getting married even with this issue.Please find another person with the same disorder so they’ll understand or some one who does’nt give a darn about it and treats u with respect.The second one is a bit difficult to find.But not impossible.
In India there is a leucoderma awareness movement.They have a matrimonial service which is exclusive for people with this condition.
http://www.lam-india.org/
Best part is I’m gaining pigmentation after i became positive and confident.Albeit with some help from medicines(tacrolimus ointment.I dont take any pills and i eat healthy.Avoiding junkies and eating out definitely helps) + support of friends, family & Pets.Emotional health is very important in healing our body.So BE POSITIVE and SMILE.
I think you are very right about the emotional health issue.
It’s hugely beneficial to be grateful for the things in your life.
And avoiding junk food is such a positive thing to do.
There is actually no such thing as junk food. There is junk and there is food.
I like food. Not junk.
I hope things go well with your website.
– Keith
Hey Keith Evans where can i mail u i’ve some questions i need to ask u.
Hi Nandhini,
Please consider trying a gluten free diet. I am 48 years old and have had vitiligo for twenty years. After going gluten free 8 months ago my vitiligo has not progressed in any noticable respect and i seem to be slowly re-pigmenting in a few areas. I am going to keep at it – i hope you will consider it as well. Good luck!
Tim
Hi Tim, Are you still noticing progress? I do not have celiac but am going gluten free in order to try to re-pigment. At this point, I am open to any options! Please let me know of your progress as of lately! I would love to hear about it
I’m Italian and my son (12 yrs old) suffer from vitiligo from he was 4 yrs old.
I tried all possible treatments as well as UVB, XTRAC, Pills, cream, antioxidant, homeophaty etc w/o results.
His vitiligo covered 70% of his body …
I found a light improvment of repigmentation with lactic ferments and melaninum 5CH homeopatic remedy …
Now he started an ayurvedic protocol and I hope to see an improvement. Also with diet and trying to reduce gluten (very difficult for italian meals … pizza, pasta, cakes)
Have you noticed any improvement with what you have tried previously? What about with what you are trying now, any success? I am interested in hearing what other people are attempting to get results, and if they have had any success. Everything is worth a shot to me. I do not have celiac, but have had vitiligo since I was 16 and am now 24. For the past few weeks I have been gluten-free and will continue to do this for at least six months to see if I notice any improvement. I am also taking gingko biloba everyday and receiving XTRAC laser treatment 3x a week. With all of that, I have noticed few freckles coming back in the white areas from the XTRAC laser. (Which I have been getting religiously done since 2008) Too soon for gluten, and not sure if the pills are doing anything.
hi,! I’m Jesiry, 17 years old, from Philippines
i think i have Vitiligo., it has small white patches in my face and it started just 3 months ago..
Now, i’m doing some Yoga and Meditation..
they say that now my white patches become smaller than before..
I really hope that it will be gone forever.. and i know it will be GONE..
Hi Keith!
I just read about some research conducted in Russia where the progression of Vitiligo was successfully stopped for a period of one year. I am posting the link so that everyone who comes to the site can find the resource.
http://vrfoundation.org/research-page/publications/sodium-oxodihydroacridinylacetate
I will soon be meeting one of the doctors involved in the foundation responsible for this research and if I get any more information, I will certainly post it here.
Good luck to everyone, hang in there and never let one aspect of your life consume it entirely.
I think my son has vitiligo. Dr said is pytiriasis alba but I an not sure with the diagnosis. Some eyebrows and eyelashes are white … I am taking him to south america for a second opinion. I had vitiligo 25 years ago but I wad cured, my doctor is dead now and the treatment I had is no longer available. I am devastated, I think is my fault bevaused I past it to him. I canot eat or sleep. I want yo die …
My son was diagnosed with vitiligo when he just turned 5. He is 8 years old now. As a parent it is devastating to see your child have any kind of disease or illness. You wish you could take it away from them and give it to yourself. It just started on his hands and with Protopic, it went away. It has progressively gotten worse and is on over 50% of his body. We will be starting NB UVB light therapy soon. I am praying for success. I will never stop trying to help my son and I pray that some day a cure will be found. In constantly looking for any hope, I did find this site. Has anyone seen this?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/260089.php
Let’s pray a cure is found in the near future!!
I feel the same way about my ten year old son. I wish I could take away his vitiligo and keep it for myself. We just found out he has it and I am incredibly sad.
Hey Keith,
Thank you for creating a resource and community for folks with vitiligo. It’s not often I research it – but found your site as I’m considering getting a tattoo (not to conceal, just ink) and wondered about the potential waste of $$$ on getting inkwork.
My vitiligo didn’t show up, ironically, until about 6 months after cutting chemicals (cleaners, dyes, fragrances) from my life for non-related reasons. But, and maybe other readers this resonances for, I had been taking birth control (hormones) and a mild anti-depressant for post-partum blues. In short, I had a new baby, my body was changing, there were some Rx that I don’t take any longer, and I was stressed.
I didn’t know what the white, itchy, symmetrical spots on my hands were. I was too busy for two years to ask a doctor. By then I’d moved to the desert and I had white spots from vitiligo as well as hyper pigmentation around my eyes from pregnancy leftover. It took me a while to accept myself.
Kids would ask about the raccoon eyes more than the white spots. I decided the “treatment” for vitiligo was, like too many options for conditions, experimental and toxic. I worked on accepting my reality and finding the sunny side of an auto immune condition – like, hey, I’ve got a family history of skin cancer but I’m highly unlikely to develop it because my immune system is on overdrive! 🙂
I’ve come to the conclusion in myself that this condition is (regardless of triggers), about a very real need to accept myself for who I am at the core – as well as others. To not judge a book by a cover. To stop trying to “blend in” – the external manifestation of the condition canals it impossible. I agree with you, Keith, that a holistic approach to self-acceptance, emotional and spiritual development, along with healthier lifestyles is the way to not have vitiligo be something that impacts your daily life in a negative way; but rather something that triggers you to shift into your highest functioning self.
I have spent the past three months in the sunshine, soaking up the vitamin d and rays of the sun. I get out and play. I eat foods rich in antioxidants. I eat raw and pescetarian. I cut yeast and nightshades out as much as possible. I go with the flow of life and when I feel stress or emotions that are related, I find a friend and talk it through. I meditate. Do good deeds in my community. Who gives a hell what I look like? I’m a great human being. That’s what having vitiligo taught this formerly stressed and insecure woman.
I won’t have it any other way. We manifest our illnesses for the lessons in them. And when we learn them, we heal.
Verbose, I am indeed. Just wanted to express my gratitude and share my story to lend a bit of hope to some one who may need it too.
Warmly,
Tara
Thank you for sharing. I hope that my son can find the self acceptance that you have found. I hope I can also get past my feelings of guilt and sadness for his condition.
Thanks Tara for your uppity and comforting support and words of wisdom. I am slowly trying to accept this condition on my external self.
🙂 Yve
Since I moved to Puerto Rico a year ago, I developed vitiligo at a fast pace. I was alarmed and felt very uncomfortable with it. I visited Venezuela for three months and while there my husband found me a Cuban dermatologist who treated me every three months with shots on the discolored spots—mainly on my left hand. It wasn’t too bad then and I saw improvements. I have been back home–Puerto Rico– since April. I know see white spots developing around my neck area. Unfortunately, I wish I could get the same treatment here. BTW the treatment I received in Venezuela WAS FREE.
i know everyone experiences things differently, but no need for being so down and out. there are WAY worse conditions to have than vitiligo! and to the parents whose kids have been diagnosed, don’t make a big deal about it to them like you have expressed here in your comments. they’ll take their cues from you. support them, build self-confidence etc but don’t dwell on it. sending perspective, positivity and health to all of you.
I stay in Mumbai and am taking treatement with Dr.Salafia. NB-UB, light is a common protocol which has worked for many that I know. One patient devised a 4-tube narrow band light system , where by we can take the light at home. It saves much hassel and one can be more regular. Being a patient his motives were sincere and has very reasonably priced it. I paid INR 8500 (approx USD140) for 4 tubes (each tube of 20 wats). Just in case someone is interested – his co-ordinates are Shaikh9820009485. Just to pass the message, with some electrical knowledge you can consider buying the tubes and putting it together
I thank you humbly for shanirg your wisdom JJWY