Authored by Dr Harsh Sharma, Edited and Peer Reviewed by Dr. Pooja Sharma

Published February 20, 2024, Last updated February 20, 2024

Vitiligo or Leucoderma (फुलवेहरी)

Vitiligo or Leucoderma is a chronic skin condition in which skin loses its natural pigmentation. This leads to white coloured spots instead of normal skin. These spots occurs in patches and may or may not be symmetrical in distribution. Vitiligo can affect any of the body parts. It can even affect the hair, eyes or even the inner side of one’s mouth. The 5 best homeopathic medicines for vitiligo or leucoderma are –

1. Calcarea Carb
2. Silicea
3. Thuja
4. Sepia
5. Arsenic Sulph Flavum

Before we come to the symptoms which indicate these particular medicines in each case, let us understand a little bit more about leucoderma.

What happens to the skin in Vitiligo or Leucoderma (फुलवेहरी में त्वचा कैसी हो जाती है)?

The normal colour of our skin is due to presence of a pigment called melanin. Melanocytes are the precursor of melanin. When there is deficiency of melanin, the skin loses its natural colour and there is white discoloration of the skin. We call this Leucoderma or Vitiligo.

Who is afflicted by Vitiligo or Leucoderma (फुलवेहरी किन लोगों को होती है)?

Vitiligo or leucoderma affects  almost 1% of the global population. It affects people from all parts of the world though the rate of affliction may vary a bit from one part of the world to the other. Most of the people develop this problem in their twenties or thirties. It affects both males and females in almost equal proportions. Leucoderma may run in families though it is not hereditary. It tends to affect more those who have some sort of autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. But this does not mean that those who have leucoderma will have other autoimmune diseases.

Causes of Leucoderma or Vitiligo (फुलवेहरी के कारण)

As of now, we don’t know a clear cause of vitiligo. Scientists increasingly think of leucoderma as an autoimmune disease. This means that it is the body’s own defence system which is responsible for destroying the melanin in the skin. Science does not clearly understand what leads to this problem. Among other factors, mental stress can also be a contributor. Prolonged mental stress or a single major event in one’s life causing stress may lead to vitiligo. In some cases, even sunburns seem to trigger leucoderma or vitiligo.

Signs and Symptoms of Leucoderma or Vitiligo (फुलवेहरी के लक्षण)

There are no signs and symptoms of leucoderma or vitiligo except the white discoloration of the skin. This discoloration of the skin is usually in patches. It may affect any part of the body. In most patients, it affects more than one part of the body. These patches are more likely to be present where the skin is exposed to sun. It commonly affects the face, hands and wrists. The patches are usually small initially but they grow over a period of time. Small patches may coalesce and form bigger ones. They may even change their shape over a period of time. In some patients, there may be premature graying of hair of the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or beard. There may even be loss of pigmentation in the mucous membranes of the mouth.

Are these white spots of Leucoderma or Vitiligo contagious or infectious ? (क्या फुलवेहरी एक संक्रामक रोग है ?)

A common misperception among some people is that leucoderma is contagious or infectious. This is not true. Vitiligo is not contagious. This means that it cannot spread from one patient to another through contact. Let us say a family member or a close friend of yours has vitiligo. These white patches cannot spread from him or her to you just by coming in touch with the patient. There is no need to worry or entertain any sich thoughts in your mind.

Myths about leucoderma or vitiligo (फुलवेहरी से जुड़े कुछ भ्रम)

A common myth in our part of the world is that Leucoderma occurs when one takes milk after eating fish. This is an oft heard cause about leucoderma. Some people say that eating fish after curd causes leucoderma. Still some believe that taking pickles or some citrus fruits can cause these white patches or vitiligo. None of the these is true. One should not have any doubts on this count. Diet is not a direct or indirect cause of the white patches or leucoderma.

Attitude of doctors and medical community towards vitiligo or leucoderma ( फुलवेहरी के प्रति लोगों और डॉक्टरों की सोच)

Despite so many advances in modern medical world, the allopathic system of medicine has not been able to find a reliable medicine or any method for curing vitiligo. From the medical point of view, vitiligo may not be a serious disease. This is because it does nothing more than the discoloration of the skin. There are no other serious effects of the disease. It is in no way life threatening. It does not in any way impair one’s lifestyle or cause any disability. Therefore doctors and the medical professionals tend to take it less seriously.

This does not in any way mean that the patients also think in a similar manner. For a patient, this is not just a cosmetic issue. It directly relates to his or her appearance; this has a direct bearing on his or her self confidence. So many patients go into a depression because they are not able to cope up with the way they start looking, more so if the face or the exposed parts of the body like hands or ams are affected.

Treatment of  white spots or vitiligo or leucoderma (फुलवेहरी का उपचार)

As mentioned earlier in the previous paragraph, there is no proper cure for leucoderma or vitiligo in the allopathic system of medicine. Topical steroids or steroidal creams are usually given at the early stage of the disease, though the results are not encouraging. One often starts getting some side effects of the steroids, more so because one has to apply these for long periods running into months before any effect is seen. By that time, the side effects start becoming visible and this forces the patients to stop such steroidal creams to prevent further damage. Other therapies like UV radiation and laser therapy are also used in the treatment of vitiligo but the results are nothing to write about.

Homeopathy for vitiligo or leucoderma (फुलवेहरी का होम्योपैथिक उपचार)

Patients often fall for the belief that if something cannot be cured with allopathic medicines, it means that it is incurable. Nothing is farther from the truth. There are so many diseases for which there is no reliable treatment in allopathy but they are curable in Homeopathy. Piles, anal fissure, kidney stones are just to name a few. Leucoderma is another such disease. In vitiligo, allopathy is able to accomplish nothing. In contrast to this, homeopathic treatment for leucoderma or vitiligo is very good. The results are very encouraging. I have personally seen so many cases getting completely cured. In many other cases, there has been partial success. By partial success I mean that the patches either reduce in size or number. There are still other cases where the disease is arrested and is not allowed to spread further. In many cases even this is a commendable performance.

Homeopathic treatment for vitiligo or leucoderma– The 5 best homeopathic medicines for vitiligo (फुलवेहरी के लिए ५ उत्तम होम्योपैथिक दवाएं )

After having treated hundreds of cases of vitiligo or leuoderma in my 2 decades of practice, I have compiled a list of some medicines which are more commonly used and very effective at the same time. This just means that these medicines cover a larger number of cases of leucoderma than the other remedies.

Here are the 5 best homeopathic medicines for Leucoderma-

1. Calcarea Carb- best remedy for leucoderma or vitiligo with dark borders

2. Silicea- one of the best homeopathic medicines for vitiligo with loss of confidence

3. Thuja – best medicine for vitiligo with warts and polyps

4. Sepia- one of the best homeopathic medicines for leucoderma with increased sweating

5. Ars Sulph Flav- one of the best homeopathic medicines for vitiligo

There are more than 2 scores of homeopathic remedies that are used for the treatment of leucoderma. All of them are equally effective if the symptoms of the patient match with the homeopathic medicine. So one should not entertain these thoughts that these 5 are the only homeopathic remedies for leucoderma.

Brief indications of the symptoms of the 5 best homeopathic medicines for leucoderma or vitiligo are being given below-

1. Calcarea Carb- One of the best homeopathic medicines for leucoderma with dark borders ( केलकेरिया कार्ब – गहरे रंग की सीमा रेखा के साथ फुलवेहरी के लिए )

In patients where the white spots or patches of vitiligo are surrounded by dark borders, Calcarea Carb is one of the best homeopathic remedies for leucoderma. The skin around the patch or the white spots is normal but the white patch is sort of circumscribed with areas of darker skin. That is why it is being referred to as dark borders. Other symptoms of the Calcarea Carb patient are usually that he or she is fat and cannot tolerate cold weather. Constipation is usually present.

2. Silicea – One of the best homeopathic medicines for vitiligo with loss of confidence (सिलिशिया – आत्म विविष्वास की कमी के साथ  फुलवेहरी के लिए )

In patients that are diffident and have loss of confidence, Silicea is one of the best homeopathic medicines for vitiligo. The patient is usually shy and afraid of mixing up with new people. The patient is usually chilly and catches cold easily. There may be bad odor in the perspiration and that may be reflected in the feet which smell badly. The nails may be deformed or crippled.

3. Thuja- One of the best homeopathic remedy for white spots with warts and polyps (थूजा  – मस्सों के साथ  फुलवेहरी के लिए )

When there is presence of warts and other growths like moles and polyps on the skin along with leucoderma, Thuja is one of the best homeopathic remedies for white spots. The skin is usually dry and there are brown spots too. There are strong chances of such warts and eruptions in the genito-urinary region.

4. Sepia – One of the best homeopathic medicines for leucoderma with increased sweating (सीपिया  – उन लोगों की फुलवेहरी के लिए जिन्हें अधिक पसीना आता हो )

In cases where there is a lot of sweating, Sepia is one of the best homeopathic medicines for vitiligo or leucoderma. The sweating may be too much as a whole, more so on the feet and toes. There may even be foul smelling perspirations. The patient becomes so irritable that he or she is easily offended, even at things which are said in lighter vein. At times, the patients become completely indifferent to their families and children too.

5. Arsenic Sulph Flavum- One of the best homeopathic remedies for vitiligo (आर्सेनिक सल्फ फलेवं   – फुलवेहरी के लिए उत्तम दवा )

This remedy is so famous for its use in vitiligo that it is often used as a stock remedy. All vitiligo patients have usually heard of this medicine from one or the other source before they seek treatment from a homeopathic doctor. There may be itching in various parts of the body though not necessary in the white spots. The patient is so chilly that he cannot keep warm in front of a fire. When such symptoms are present, Arsenic Sulph Flavum is one of the best homeopathic remedies for vitiligo.

FAQs about Vitiligo or Leucoderma and the homeopathic treatment for Vitiligo

• What is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo or Leucoderma is a chronic skin condition in which the normal skin loses its pigment called melanin.

• What causes Vitiligo?

Although exact cause of vitiligo is not known, it is increasingly believed by scientists to be an autoimmune disease.

• Is Vitiligo hereditary?

No vitiligo or leucoderma is not hereditary, though the chances of getting it increases if your parents or close blood relations have it.

• Is there any homeopathic treatment for vitiligo?

Yes, homeopathy offers a natural and permanent treatment for vitiligo. Homeopathic medicines for vitiligo are very effective and can help you get rid of leucoderma once and for all.

• Is vitiligo contagious?

No, vitiligo is not contagious. It does not spread from contact with a leucoderma patient.

• Which is the best homeopathic medicine for vitiligo?

Homeopathy has many effective medicines for the treatment of vitiligo. When the symptoms of a particular homeopathic medicine matches with that of the patient, that medicine will work to cure the patient. Therefore, it is important to match the symptoms of the homeopathic medicine for leucoderma to that of the patient.

• Is leucoderma curable in homeopathy?

Yes, vitiligo or leucoderma is curable in homeopathy.

• Can vitiligo cause skin cancer?

No, vitiligo or leucoderma does not lead to skin cancer.

• Which are the natural homeopathic remedies for vitiligo?

There are many natural homeopathic remedies for vitiligo. In fact, all homeopathic remedies for vitiligo are natural.

• Can young children and pregnant women avail homeopathic vitiligo treatment?

Yes, homeopathic vitiligo treatment is perfectly safe for pregnant women as well as young children. Homeopathic medicines are natural medicines which have been diluted and have no side effects.

• Can Homeopathic treatment for vitiligo be continued along with the allopathic medicines?

Yes, homeopathic treatment for vitiligo or leucoderma can be continued along with the allopathic medicines.

• Does vitiligo affect fertility?

In some cases, vitiligo has been known to adversely affect pregnancies.