Where do these visible white spots on the skin come from? It is on the side of the cells responsible for the color of the skin (melanocytes) that we must look. In the case of vitiligo, the melanocytes disappear, which causes the appearance of these depigmented areas. Some people are indeed more at risk of developing vitiligo. If we know that the appearance of white spots is due to the disappearance of melanocytes , there are several hypotheses to explain the abnormal destruction of these cells:
In people predisposed to vitiligo, there are certain factors that can trigger the appearance of this depigmentation . Intense stress, an emotional shock, a skin condition such as a wound, a cut or a sunburn can lead to the appearance of vitiligo spots.
The first spots of vitiligo often appear on the hands, face, arms, or feet . The spots are white with well-defined outlines. These depigmented spots can appear anywhere on the body, even on the mucous membranes. Hair and hair can also whiten if they are at the level of the white spots, in this case the melanin is absent from the hair follicles. The size of the tasks may vary. While painless, some people may experience burning or itching sensations when the spots appear. There are two types of vitiligo. The segmental is defined by vitiligo patcheslocalized. The second type: the non-segmental develops over a larger area of the body, which can cover most of the body. These white spots are more visible on black and dark skin tones . Dark phototypes are therefore the first to be affected by the psychological impact and the need for treatment in dermatology.
It is a doctor who makes the diagnosis of vitiligo by simple examination of the skin. A blood test can sometimes make sure that the patient does not have other autoimmune diseases that could explain the symptoms of depigmentation.
There is no curative treatment to completely eliminate vitiligo.
There are solutions to reduce the visibility of white spots:
Topical treatments and corticosteroid therapy: different types of creams allow the skin to repigment itself. Topical treatments containing immunomodulatory active ingredients help repigment white spots.
Phototherapy is the essential treatment in the context of the repigmentation of vitiligo. People with white spots are exposed to light from UVB lamps . The radiation stimulates the repigmentation of the affected skin areas. 2 to 3 phototherapy sessions per week for at least 6 months are necessary to expect results. It is advisable not to exceed 400 treatment sessions;
_ Melanocyte transplantation is a surgical procedure. This technique consists of grafting melanocytes from healthy areas of the patient's skin onto white spots and depigmented areas. This solution is only intended for stable and small-scale vitiligo.
GliSODin has developed the food supplement V-SOD to support depigmented skin and reduce the visibility of white spots. The patented formula contains Melon SOD combined with wheat protein. For greater effectiveness, regular intake of food supplements is accompanied by a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet.
V-SOD capsules provide the body with antioxidants that help reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress (partly responsible for vitiligo ). A clinical study carried out in 2021 shows the effectiveness of protected gliadin SOD when combined with phototherapy sessions aimed at reducing white spots on the skin. 80% of GliSODin users observed positive results on the evolution of their vitiligo. V-SOD would allow a repigmentation of the depigmented areas up to 20% after 6 months of supplementation and in accompaniment of UVB phototherapy against only 9% without taking food supplements.
*Dr. M. Ben Salem DrI. Oueslati Dr M. Yazidi DrF. Chaker Professor M. Chihaoui. Autoimmune diseases associated with type 1 diabetes
