This skin condition takes the form of white patches on the skin. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease , that is, it results from an abnormal functioning of the immune system . Depigmented areas, which correspond to white spots on the skin, can appear in various places on the body: face, feet, hands. Depending on the type and evolution of vitiligo, the spots can be more or less extensive, oval, irregular or perfectly demarcated. depigmentation _can be localized on a fairly restricted area of the body or, on the contrary, it can affect many parts of the body. The discoloration can be partial, the affected areas can also be completely white, even opposing the natural color of the skin. This phenomenon is the opposite of hyperpigmentation , a case in which melanin, the brown pigment of the skin, causes the appearance of brown spots.
The origin of this skin condition comes from the destruction of melanocytes , the cells responsible for the color and pigmentation of the skin. In the absence of these cells, the skin whitens. Hair, beard, mustache, eyebrows or other hairs can also be affected by vitiligo and can turn white if they are located in an area affected by depigmentation. Skin depigmentation is diagnosed in a dark room with a Wood's lamp. The dermatologist uses the blue light emitted by the lamp to define the outline of the spots and their intensity. Vitiligo can have psychological repercussions for those affected.
Vitiligo does not affect all bodies in the same way and can take various forms:
Mucosal vitiligo is a form of depigmentation that only affects mucous membranes such as the lips or genitals.
If we thought for a long time that vitiligo was a psychosomatic illness, we now know that this statement is false. Stress can indeed aggravate or even trigger certain vitiligos, but this is not the cause of the disease. The origins are plural and multi-factorial.
The autoimmune origin is the most common cause. A relatively strong correlation has been identified between vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases such as diabetes , thyroid problems or inflammatory bowel disease. People affected by the phenomenon of skin depigmentation produce abnormal antibodies, which attack their own cells: the melanocytes are thus targeted and destroyed by the body by mistake. Deprived of the cells that give the skin its color, the body can no longer produce pigments and the skin becomes totally white.
Different forms of stress such as psychological stress, related to illness, pregnancy or surgery could promote the appearance of vitiligo. However, this impact seems to be quite relative.
Scientific studies point out that people affected by vitiligo could accumulate free radicals abnormally . These disrupt the usual functioning of the cellular system and destroy melanocytes . Intense stress causes a significant production of free radicals and it seems that stress can aggravate 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 treatment and in accompaniment of phototherapy with UVB treatment against only 9% without taking food supplements.
