Controlling the progression of vitiligo is something that every vitiligo fighter wants. When medications or surgical treatment don’t do much, anyone can lose hope and indulge in self-pity. Well, you don’t have to do that. You might have never given it a thought, but taking a holistic approach (a balanced approach to exercise, diet, and medication) can help you prevent vitiligo from spreading. Hmmm. Don’t know what we mean? Well, here we have 5 ways that you can adapt to stop vitiligo from spreading.
Plan a Healthy Diet
Creating a proper diet plan will help you gain a better understanding of how various foods impact your skin disorder. There isn’t one diet that works for all vitiligo fighters. One may need to follow a ‘Low Fat, High Healthy Carbohydrate’ diet while another may need a ‘Low Carbohydrate, High Vegetable’ diet. While you may be confused about what to eat and what to avoid, get few tests done to check the deficiency of:
- Vitamin B12
- Folic Acid or Folate
- L-Phenylalanine
- Vitamin C
- Zinc levels
- Copper levels
- Vitamin D
Rigorous Monitoring
To find out which food works best for you, you need to monitor your progress. Take photographs of your affected skin every 2 weeks and keep in record. Once you know how your skin is affected by a particular diet combination, you will be in a better position to create a diet plan that can stop vitiligo from spreading. Generally, foods rich in Vitamin B-12, Folic Acid, Zinc, Vitamin C, Iron, Beta-carotene, and Anti-oxidants are beneficial in vitiligo.
Pick up the Right Exercise
It is amazing how exercise can work against vitiligo by de-stressing you. While no research has proven that exercise can cure vitiligo, many people with the chronic skin disorder have reported its benefits. Exercise can be as simple as a brisk-walking, running, swimming, cycling or even dancing. Doing it regularly is one of the best ways to improve physical and mental health in vitiligo. Whichever exercise you choose, don’t push your body too hard, else it would cause a lot of physical stress. This physical stress could further trigger the immune system to worsen your vitiligo (as per a study by US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health).
Watch for Complications
If you are already on a long-term vitiligo treatment, talk to your doctor before starting with any food supplements to avoid complications. Consult your doctor if you notice rashes, dry skin, and itching during the treatment.
Stay Strong
Dealing with a chronic skin disorder like vitiligo can damage your overall emotional and mental well being. Take time to relax and de-stress. You can do so by trying Yoga for vitiligo. Since stress is closely linked to vitiligo, try below mentioned breathing routines to induce calm:
- The Three Part Breath (Dirga Pranayama)
- Skull Shining Breathing (Kapalbhati)
- Alternate Nostril Breathing (Anulom Vilom)
- Humming Bee Breath (Bhramari)
Find a local vitiligo support group to meet others who are facing similar challenges and learn how they are coping with it. Make sure your family and friends are on the lookout for signs of hopelessness.