According to homeopathic philosophy leucoderma or vitiligo is not just a skin disease but it is the external manifestation of the internal derangement of the body. Thus, the treatment in homeopathy is aimed at curing this internal problem because only this would provide permanent relief from white patches. The patient is thus evaluated from different angles – physical, emotional, mental and familial. Also important is life situation prevailing when the problem started.

There are 33 remedies in homeopathy for leucoderma or vitiligo or white patches. Arsenic sulph falvus, Arsenic album, Baryta muriaticum and Baryta carbonicum are few of them. A professional homeopath chooses the right one for a particular patient by carefully assessing his or her symptoms. This is very important because only the well-selected remedy would cure the patient. Also it is a chronic disease and may take considerable time to cure even with the best selected homeopathic remedy. The patienst should keep this in mind and should be ready to cooperate with their homeopath.

Leucoderma or vitiligo is only curable in homeopathy while other treatments incuding sun exposure, ultraviolet radiation and external applications only provide temporary relief. Also allopathic treatment is associated with side effects like liver damage, skin allergy, nausea, cataract and other eye problems. The well-selected homeopathic remedies are without any side effects.

Many a times vitiligo or lecuderma is associated with stress, thyroid dysfunction, pernicious anemia, Addison's disease, alopacia areata (bald patches) and intestinal disorders. With homeopathic treatment the above conditions are also dealt with concurrently thus providing complete and permanent recovery.

Also I have observed that the patients recover faster if nonvegetarian food, milk, milk products and foods containing artificial colors and flavours are restricted.

For online homeopathic treatment of vitiligo or leucoderma, you may e-mail us on dr_ramanand@rediffmail.com

Vitiligo, which is often called as leucoderma, is a disorder where the skin loses its color in patches of irregular shapes and sizes.

This is a pigmentation disorder which means that melanocytes (the pigment-producing cells) in the skin get destroyed which results in the shortage of melanin and thus development of white patches on the skin. The hair on the affected part may also lose their color and turn grey.

It is not a contagious disease and the patient should not be trated as untouchable.

• Vitiligo resembles an autoimmune disorder. The pigment i.e. melanin (the matter that gives colour to our skin) producing cells of the skin are destroyed by the body's own antibodies (defense mechanism).
• It usually runs in families.
• Chemicals such as phenol and catechol which are used in disinfactants, dying and tanning are related to increased predisposition to vitiligo.
• Emotional and physical stress is seen as a mojor contributor. It is commonly seen that vitiligo is related to a stress event in the patient's life.

• White patches on skin which are irregelar in shape and size.
• Usually the parts which are exposed to light are affected like face, neck, hands, arms and so on.
• Also, vitiligo may be seen on genitals, breast and legs.
• In some patients the hair may also turn grey on the affected part.
• Sometimes the spread of vitiligo may stop after the first patch and sometimes these patches spread very fast.

Though it is recommended to consult a professional homeopath for vitiligo, the patient may try exposing the affected area to sunlight while the normal skin is protected with a sunscreen. The sun rays have ultraviolet radiation which may promote repigmentation.