Please post here only if you have, or have had, Vitiligo and have followed Flavio's program.
Please share the extent to which you were able to follow it.
Kindly list whether you were cured of Vitiligo, or to what extent you had success, and for how long it lasted.
Thank you,
Tom
Replies
Anyone else?
Hi Tom,
I practice most of Flavio's functional treatment suggestions including narrowband uvb, supplements, topical ointment, green juice, etc...
I am now 31 years old. Since the age of 5, I have vitiligo slowly spreading symmetrically to my face, hands, arms, knees, and feet. I have had relatively good results so far over the past 6 months. My entire face has repigmented nearly 100%. I have freckles of pigment beginning to fill in a variety of patches. Mostly patches are filling in where I have been using a narrowband uvb handheld in combination with protopic ointment. Also, I have not noticed any spreading or new loss of pigment during this treatment. Repigmenting vitiligo is incredibly slow. I plan to continue with my hopes up, patience, and persistence.
DJ,
It's good to know about your progression.
While there is no easy cure (maybe soon), the only way to speed up repigmentation is through cell transplantation. As you know, that would be the last round, after making sure that there is no more spreading signs.
The only person in the planet able to repigment hands/feet is Dr. Holla (http://www.vitiligo-surgery.com/about-us.php).
I believe he only does surgeries in India. His repigmentation ratio is around 95%.
However, it's expensive and painful.
Regards
If you can restrain yourself, you might find a truthful and beneficial exchange of information about your program.
Thank you.
Thank you, DJ.
1) Was there a particular ailment you were able to pinpoint and correct, per the plan's suggestion, such as a gut or thyroid issue, that you can attribute to your improvement in these 6 months?
2) What percentage of the face would you say was affected by Vitiligo, to have it improved nearly 100%? Many report success on the face from Protopic, via the dermatologist. For me, for example, I have a small area under the lips and near my eyebrows -- so far that is. My problem is predominantly on my hands, chest, underarms and back. Applying ointment to my back is a challenge, of course.
3) The plan is very broad and encompassing. Its suggestion to avoid stress is a challenge for most of us, I would venture. As our disease progresses, the condition itself, and our active fight against it, can be an extremely stressful burden. If one is not stressing about it to an extent, one is probably not fully engaged in its treatment; therefore, a paradoxical "catch 22" exists.
4) If you could sum the plan up, in all your reading of it, would you say it is:
a) Avoid stress.
b) Apply light and creams.
c) Take nutritional supplements and eat well.
d) Exercise, but do not engage, or subject the skin, in friction or striking.
e) Determine an underlying cause or problem.
Is that a fair summation of the plan you followed in these 6 months, or what would you add that I've missed?
And, lastly, would you attribute a large portion of the 6 month's progress to UVB and Protopic?
Hi Tom,
1) Not sure if I have any gut or thyroid issues. Probably a good idea for me to get that checked out. The only ailments I am aware of are allergies that I discovered from a scratch test. Also, blood work showed low Vitamin D levels.
2) Around 10% of my face was depigmented all around the mouth, chin area. This region started to depigment around 7 years ago and was getting progressively worse. I started to apply protopic ointment twice daily. I was also getting plenty of sun exposure throughout the day. After around 3 weeks, freckles of new pigment began to fill in. Around 5 to 6 months later, my face has repigmented in full. Unfortunately, other depigmented areas have not been as responsive.
3) For me, things that can help with stress include following a regular sleep pattern, dressing appropriately for the weather, avoiding allergens, keeping a clean living space, eating a healthy diet, frequent exercise, and staying well hydrated.
4) All of the above. Yes, that list is an accurate summation of the plan I followed during the past 6 months. One thing that was missed is that on the face I used a 1.0mm micro needle roller.
Lastly, improvement over the past 6 months I would attribute mainly to religiously applying protopic twice daily, plenty of sun exposure / narrowband uvb, using a micro needle roller, frequent exercise, supplements, healthy diet, staying well hydrated, avoiding allergens.
"Lastly, improvement over the past 6 months I would attribute mainly to religiously applying protopic twice daily, plenty of sun exposure / narrowband uvb, using a micro needle roller, frequent exercise, supplements, healthy diet, staying well hydrated, avoiding allergens."
Good information, DJ. Thanks.