Vitiligo: A Look Into the Multifactorial Causes of Melanocyte Destruction and Theoretical Naturopathic Interventions

Abstract

Vitiligo is a disorder of the epidermis and hair follicles manifesting as expanding hypopigmentation (1). Vitiligo only effects 0.5-1.0% of the population without specificity for age, sex, or ethnicity (2). The lesions are well-circumscribed white cutaneous macules with histological studies showing absence of melanocytes in the lesions (2). Various factors described in all of the existing theories and individually and in combination, superimposed on pre-existing genetic susceptibility of the individual seem to all be able to trigger apoptosis in melanocytes (2). The apoptosis of melanocytes in the vitiligo lesions seems to be a result of a combination of all the different theories due to a pre-existing genetic susceptibility of the individuals with the disease (1). As a result, diagnostic evaluation of patients with vitiligo includes examining antibodies, allergens, and systemic inflammation levels. Naturopathic interventions based on the research focus on balancing redox reactions within the skin cells and decreasing systemic inflammation.