Taking care of your skin should be a vital part of your daily health regime. After all, it is the largest organ in your body.

For this reason, many Vitiligo patients are interested in fixing their condition with everything available – from supplements, vitamins, minerals, and botanicals to modified diets.

If you have vitiligo and deciding which supplements to use, consider consulting your doctor first.

Vitamins

Vitamins Supplementation has appeared to reduce the discoloration of skin in vitiligo patients.

The pathogenesis of vitiligo includes the excess production of reactive oxygen species as well as oxidative stress. These factors contribute to the damage and death of melanocytes. Plus, most people living with vitiligo are deficient in particular vitamins. That is why their supplementation might be beneficial.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid help to repair and synthesize DNA, along with methylation. Also, this vitamin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of melanin. A study showed that supplementation of vitamin B12 and folic acid combined with sunlight exposure can induce repigmentation faster than vitamins or sun alone.

Vitamin D is used in the growth and differentiation of melanocytes and keratinocytes. Also, it inhibits the activation of T cells. Low levels of this vitamin are always noted in patients with vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases.

Vitamin D supplementation is effective in repigmentation over time, especially when combined with narrow-band UVB. Keep in mind vitamin D is fat soluble, so there is a high risk of toxicity if a vitiligo patient takes too much.

Vitamin C, vitamin E, and alpha-lipoic acid possess some antioxidant properties. Research claims that combining vitamin C, E, and alpha-lipoic acid with narrow-band UVB can accelerate repigmentation.

In most cases, vitamin supplementation can stabilize vitiligo, lower oxidative stress and improve the effects of phototherapy and other treatments.

Minerals

Some mineral supplements have also been touted to help prevent the severity and recurrence of vitiligo. In most cases, vitiligo patients have zinc and copper deficiencies.

Zinc acts as an antioxidant that helps the healing of wounds, protecting the body against free radicals, supporting melanogenesis, and preventing the death of melanocytes. Sometimes it can bring about gastrointestinal irritation.

On the other hand, copper is an antioxidant as well as a coenzyme that contributes to melanogenesis. Like vitamins, these minerals’ supplementation plays a big role in treating vitiligo.

Herbal Supplements

A number of researchers have investigated and proved that Ginkgo biloba herb can act as a potential treatment for vitiligo. The plant is native to China and possesses both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Sometimes this herbal supplement is linked to gastrointestinal distress. Another disadvantage of Ginkgo biloba is that it might not be appropriate for vitiligo patients undergoing anticoagulant treatment since it has a high risk of coagulopathy.

Polypodium leucotomos is another effective herbal vitiligo supplement native to Central and South America. It possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as the power to protect the skin against UV radiation damage and modulate the immune system.

Polypodium leucotomos not only has a good safety profile but is also well tolerated at high doses of approximately 240 mg per day. Supplementation with this herb can drastically improve supplementation, mainly in photo-exposed parts.

L-phenylalanine

L-phenylalanine is an essential amino acid, meaning you must get it from your diet. Plus, it is the only form of phenylalanine and is mostly found in proteins.

L-phenylalanine can interfere with the production of antibodies against melanocytes. The supplement is taken orally in conjunction with phototherapy or sunlight. The best thing about L-phenylalanine is that it is safe and can be used even by children with vitiligo.

A Holistic Cure?

In 2022, vitiligo researcher David Paltrow came out with a bold claim: according to him, the root cause of vitiligo has nothing to do with melanin (the skin pigment). Even bolder, he is claiming that by tackling this root cause, he is able to cure vitiligo in his patients without using any of the above-mentioned medications.

Although not everyone agrees with his claims, I do think his introductory video is worth a watch. Check it out below: