White patches on the skin are indicative of a skin condition known as Vitiligo. It is referred to as a pigmentation disorder as the cells of the body that produce the pigment melanin, called melanocytes, are destroyed. This results in the appearance of white spots or patches on the skin. These patches can also occur on the tissue membranes of the nose, mouth and retina of the eye. The hair that grows in these areas may also become discolored.
It is still not certain as to what causes vitiligo. It is believed that some individuals inherit certain genes that increase their vulnerability to depigmentation. However, it is also widely believed that the loss of pigmentation in vitiligo occurs as the body's immune system fights against its own tissues and organs. This results in the production of a protein known as cytokine which affects the melanocytes and destroys them. As such vitiligo is believed to be an autoimmune disease. There is still another view that the melanocytes cause their own destruction. In certain cases, individuals have also reported symptoms of vitiligo after sunburn or a period of severe emotional stress. The patches that result from vitiligo generally occur on the areas of the body that are exposed to the sun such as arms, legs and face. They can also develop on other areas such as the mouth, nostrils and genital region. In addition, there may also be premature graying of the hair on the head, eyebrows, eyelashes and beard.
Treatment for vitiligo usually takes a long time and the patches start to reduce gradually. There are also a number of natural remedies that could be used to aid the treatment of this condition. Sunlight promotes pigmentation and as such exposing the skin to some amount of sunlight daily will help to reduce the patches. This must not be overdone as the patches are sensitive to sunburn. The herb St. John's Wort is known to enhance photosensitivity of the skin and drinking the extract of this herb for a period of five months would help to alleviate the condition. You can also prepare a paste of radish seeds, mix with vinegar and apply it to the white patches. Another beneficial home remedy for vitiligo is obtained by mixing four teaspoons of turmeric powder to about 250ml of mustard oil. This mixture may be applied to the white spots and patches twice daily and over a period of time they would start to diminish.
answered by G M