I have posted all pictures of my progress, starting at the very beginning so that you can see about how fast it has spread and where I am now.
FEBRUARY 2013
My vitiligo actually started in July 2012, but I didn’t start taking pictures until I finally decided to do something about it. I had been hoping it would just stop, but it kept spreading and so I figured I’d better get a hold on it as quickly as possible in order to minimize the damage done.
Here are the first set of pictures I took in February 2013, so that I could document a starting point. Without taking pictures, it was nearly impossible to recognize what spots were there already versus new ones. I also wanted to be able to see if what I was doing was working. I started the Body Ecology Diet approximately 2 months later in May 2013.
JULY 15, 2013
At this point, 5 months later, the vitiligo was still only on my hands and armpits, but spreading quite a bit as you can tell.
JULY 24, 2013
Much to my dismay, just 9 days later I noticed a faint circle developing on my shin.
JANUARY 2014
(click photos to enlarge)
JUNE 2014
Here I am sitting in the sun with the Merry Clinic skin oil on my hands and shins.
AUGUST 2014
You can see below, and in the pictures above that I have finally started to gain some small spots of pigment on my hands…but nothing yet on my shins.
Here are some side by side progression pics from September 2013 to August 2014 below:
SEPTEMBER 2014
You can see that the spots on my left hand are starting to merge together in the pic below. Also, I am starting to develop random spots in the middle of my right hand.
NOVEMBER 2014
As of November I started using Dr. Wanakee Hill’s skin boosting oil and cream, and have seen some pretty exciting results. Lots of little dots of pigment returning!
APRIL 2015
I will keep this page updated as I continue to see pigment return so be sure to check back, or like The Vitiligo Girl on Facebook to receive updates!
I am so grateful to have stumbled upon this site! I am quite interested in learning what a typical day looks like for you re: food intake at breakfast, lunch and dinner and if you continue to have success with repigmentation.
Hoping this site is still active!
Hi! Just wondering how your progress is now?
I moved to maui use coconut oil b12 and go out on the sun. I discovered on my own back in 2009. Spots have been coming everytime I use oil sun and b12 liquid 5000
Even slowed down dramatically since living in hawaii.
i was diagnosed with vitiligo when i was 8 yrs old. it really started to spread a lot faster in my 20’s. i am now 46 and am just recently finding out on my own other problems that can stem from this lovely skin disorder. i feel like i am falling apart and am losing my marbles. but so many docs it seems have no clue. i wish i only had as many spots as u. u are beautiful and thank u so much for sharing your info.
So how is Dr. Wanakee’s treatment improving your progress over what you were noticing prior to starting it?
Thank you
Hi,
Thank you for a very informative blog.
My son (6 year old) has developed white patches on his feet, knees and under his eyes. I am extremely concerned. We took him to dermatologist and started with Latisse, Elidel, and Locoid. But, I am looking for more natural remedies. Your blog has given me some hope.
Where can I get details about the diet plan which can help him repigment his skin?
Thanks.
Hi, Your blog is very uplifting. Do you have any updates to your blog as of 2016? It would be nice to see the added pigment from Dr Hills oil.
My son is now 20yrs old he has vitiligo for about 10years n now its starting2bother him emotionally.i try n encourage him by telling him he is handsome no matter what.but it hurts me more cause i cant do anything to change it.im getting ready to go back to a dermatologist havent seen one and years because its like they gave me no hope.so please tell me what to do.he also has Down syndrome,heart problem ,Asthma,and hyperthyroid.which he on meds for.help us in the right direction please.thanks for anything u can do.
Vitamin D deficiency may cause vitiligo. It is better to take Vitamin D3 2000 IU everyday.
Hi T.J,
My son is 4 years and got diagnosed with vitiligo. I am thinking of starting the treatment with http://vitiligogreen.com/. Have you heard anything about their product and its effectiveness?
Hi T.J, I really congratulate you for overcoming vitiligo. In febraury 2015, few white patches appeared on my both legs. I have consulted dermatologist. I was not concerned about it at all. But 2 months back, white patches started spreading ,appeared on my back, elbows,foot. I have gone through internet found out, there is no permanent cure for vitiligo. For one week I was totally devastated. But I got my hope determination back by your blog. Thanks alot. I have started yoga for improving my immunity. I have no idea about the vitamins deficiency relation with vitiligo. I learnt vitamin B12 deficiency causes white patches on skin. Actually, what vitamin deficiency causes vitiligo?
Thank you Revali!
Yes, B12 deficiency contributes to vitiligo as well as deficiencies in zinc, folate, and fatty acids. A lack of digestive enzymes are also a big issue for those with vitiligo.
Hi,
I really enjoy your blog. Any updated pictures to post or new updates to your treatment plan?
Thanks
Hi Miri!
I am so glad you are enjoying the blog. Yes, I do have updated photos. Look for them in the coming weeks, around the first of the year.
I am so glad i stumbled across your blog. I have suffered from vitiligo for about 10 years now. In the past three years it has spread all over my body and has become very noticeable. I have never really let it bother me and honestly I would ususally forget about it. However over the last 6 months I have noticed peoples reactions. How if they were about to hand me something they would quickly drop it and pull their hand back. People would stare, and then there are those who would just boldly as `What is up with your skin?` Or they refer to me as Michael Jackson. ( as a child I loved this man so that comment didnt bother me ask much) I have gone to the dermatologist and with all honesty I can not afford the creams or the lights or rays and the meds she talked about scared me. See I also have Graves Disease. I was diagnosed 11 years ago, and I had a total Thyroidectamy in Sept of 2013, that itself has taken a toll on my immune system. I do nit want to take any pills that can damage my immune system any more. So I look forward to reading more of your blog and its great to know Im not alone!
Thanks so much for your appreciation Georgette! It makes me so happy to know that the blog is helping people like you feel hopeful and encouraged. You have lots of company! People can be so ignorant and rude, which is one of the things that makes this skin disorder so hard to deal with. Vitiligo is an outward sign of severe imbalance inside the body, so focusing on getting healthy can help you feel better and improve your state of mind 🙂
I have vilitago myself I’ve had it for 1 year and it has spread on my hands and my stomach. I also have graves disease. I’m so happy to read this blog you give me confidence to keep fighting. thanks again
Hi,
Thanks for doing this. I have vitiligo since 2012 (not quite sure anymore). But it really got worst in 2013 spots were growing on my hands, fore arms. This year 2015 the spots were growing on my shins and feet. I am determined now to change it. I have tested myself for allergies. And also my gutt has been tested. I use the following supplements daily: Vitamin D, Magnesium, Enzyms, ProBiotics, adrenalBooster and thyroid. My dr and I are still working on the right concoction. But after 3 months now I see a difference. Maybe the holiday rest and lying in the Caribean sun and eating wholesome food helped! If you need specifics please don’t hesitate to ask. My DONT’S foods are: dairy, yeast, gluten, sugar. My DO’S food: Apple vinegar, green juices, salads, nuts, fruits, veggies
Hello there!
Thanks for visiting! Your doctor sounds like he/she is really helping you and you are definitely on the right track! Keep up the good work, and thanks for sharing. If you’d like to share your experience here on the blog in the future, please contact me at TheVitiligoGirl(at)gmail(dot)com.
Hi TJ
I have vitiligo on my hands, legs, waist since last 7 Years. Currently going for UVA therapy and using psoriline cream.
Can u suggest me some diet plan to boost the rate of repigmentation. I have been on no dairy diet since last month. Some patches have disappeared but it is taking too much time and money also.
Thanks in advance.
-Surya
Hi Surya!
Lots of folate from cooked vegetables, no gluten, corn, dairy or soy. I also highly recommend allergy testing so that you can be sure to avoid the foods you are allergic to.
My daughter was currently diagnosed with Vitiligo and she is 9 years old. But, looking back – I know she had it for almost a year. But, we thought it was a horrible case of eczema. Some dermatologists do not even have a lot of information on the disease. I found several top pediatric specialists and I am treating her with traditional medicines from one of the OLD School docs. (which is steroids and soon light treatments) – but I want to also heal the problem inside, not just the outside symptoms.
She just took a food sensitivity test and am waiting for the results. But, for the last couple of weeks she and I are completely gluten free and pretty much dairy free as well. I give her b12 and folic acid and in the evenings she takes fish oil, probiotics and digestive enzymes. And she is repigmenting ! I highly encourage gluten free.
Great job and good advice TYoung! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi my son is 7 and has had vitiligo since the age of 4. At first it was just his upper lip and chin area. I used topical creams/steroids and he significantly regained pigment where we stopped treatments for about a year. All of a sudden about 6 months ago it has returned and spread pretty rapidly again on his right side of his face, chin, and upper lip. I went back to Latisse, Elidel, and Locoid daily. What do you suggest for him? Recommendations are greatly appreciated. I have not tried other avenues…(Ex. Blood work, diet, allergy, oils, etc) please help.
Hello,
For suggestions on diet, supplements, etc. please join the group Holistic Vitiligo Remedies https://www.facebook.com/groups/726052890833789/
Hello Vane,
I read your post and would like you to contact me if you can. I would like to share with you my daughters vitiligo repigmenting story. I want you to know that Vitiligo is curable. We used a Mind, Body and spirit approach and so far we have had wonderful results. My email is 4buterflies@gmail.com.
I realize your post is from a year ago but I am hopeful you will see my reply. Wishing you all love and light on your journey!
My son has a depigmentation skin problem too.. they said vitiligo .. his doctor said that there is no cure 🙁 my heart was broken … I remembered my son had a severe eczema on the back of his knee ..and his dermatologist prescribed him an ointment .. I think the ointment was too strong and destroyed the pigment of his skin..I’m glad to see hope for his skin condition thank you
Hello,
I stumbled upon your blog and am happy that I did. I find your pictures to be encouraging. I was the same way as you, in regards to the sun, trying for short periods of time and seeing no results so quitting. So many websites say stay out of the sun when in fact a few times I had noticed new spots coming after being exposed to sun without sunscreen.
I have ordered the skin boosting oil and lotion and am hoping for some results! Fingers crossed!
I also eat spinach everyday and take supplements, especially B vitamins. I had not heard of the link with zinc and vitiligo before so that is helpful information.
Thank you for your blog and your upbeat attitude. I will continue to read it.
Julie
Hello Julie!
Thank you so much for your appreciation, I am so glad the blog is helping you stay motivated and encouraged :)! http://realvitiligotreatment.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comments-form
I just have a few other questions for you. Once you were in the sun for a half hour after applying the oil and cream, did you wash it off? Also, do you still apply the cream even if you aren’t able to go in the sun after? The reason I ask is that I live in a climate where we have cooler temperatures for at least 6 months out of the year. Being in the sun isn’t an option for me everyday. Thank you for taking time out of your day for all of us who read your blog and have questions! Much appreciated
Hi. I’ve been using a cream named “creme renovador da pele Vitiflora”.I really recomend it! My white spot on face is repigmenting more and more.in my hand,the repigmentation is still little. But in recent spot it works very fast.I had a white spot in my hand for abõut 2 weeks,then I began to use Vitiflora and in about 2 weeks the spot dísappeared. I am from Portugal. Many people here are using “creme renovador da pele Vitiflora” with great results! This cream is produced in Brazil and can be bought online. Search for the name i referred above in the internet. I hope you all the best. Telma
Hi Telma,
Thanks for sharing!
You are pretty. I am sorry. I had to make that comment.
Thank you!
Hi!
I heard David Paltrows book works but im too afraid to buy it unless im fully sure, i heard you tried it and im wondering if its worth it?
Hi Sara!
David Paltrow’s book is an excellent place to start when you are trying to figure out what to do about your vitiligo. I highly recommend it, it will teach you a lot. It is a little pricey, but I think it is well worth it. I wish I would have had it when I was first diagnosed three years ago…would have saved me a ton of time.
Hi my name is Maggie, my daughter Natalia is 11 years old and she was just diagnosed with vitiligo. Last year in November we took a vacation to Dominican Republic and after one week in the sun and playing in the pool I notice one small spot on her arm and on her neck. I thought they were from too much sun, (she is very pale so during winter we did not see anything on her skin) but this summer she went to Europe for 2 months and as she was tanning she notice more white spots on her back, her grandmother took her to the doctor and he confirmed that she has vitiligo. In one week she is coming home and I need to help her because she is very upset and this early stage. I was doing a lot of research on internet and i found your page. You gave me hope and I thank you for that. Please let me know what I should due first? Definitely I will change her diet and I’m looking to buy a slow juicer so she can get more vitamins form fruits and vegetables. One again thank you and I wish you best of luck 🙂
Hi Maggie,
I am so sorry to hear about your little girl, it’s so heart breaking when it’s your child. I can only imagine how you must feel.
Yes, look into changing her diet…specifically eliminating gluten and dairy to start. I would also consider getting her a food allergy test and work on healing her gut. I highly recommend reading Emily’s Vitiligo and Dr. Susan Blum’s Immune System Recovery Plan.
Have you considered taking her to a Functional Medicine Doctor or Naturopath?
Wow! I’ve never seen anything like your repigmentation. My daughter is a health and wellness professional and has been researching ways to deal with vitaligo. She sent me to your website. I’ve never had any hope before. It just spreads on. I’ve had it for at least 15 years. Yes, I was swimming in a pool a lot at the time I noticed it, but I did not think about it, as there were at least two other women at the pool with pigment loss under their arms.
Do you or did you use Dr. Wanakee Hill’s boosting oil and cream on your whole body or only on the areas with pigment loss? I have been using sunscreen extensively as I was advised by all of the doctors I’ve seen. I was told that the areas without pigment were more susceptible to skin cancer. This summer I can see some pigment loss on my hands for the first time. Since I wash my hands a lot, I assumed the new pigment loss was due to washing off the sunscreen. In truth, I don’t sunscreen my legs just so I can get some sun on my skin and have not noticed much more pigment loss. I would like to go about beginning to expose my skin to sun in the best and safest way.
Thank you for your help and hope!
Hi Leslee!
I am so glad you are gaining hope from my blog, that is the primary reason I created it :).
I use Dr. Wanakee Hill’s boosting oil and cream on my spots only…and just before going in the sun, for a total of three times a day. Some days I do better than others with remembering to apply it. I never use sunscreen because it is very toxic. I only use it if I am going to be in the sun for hours, such as a day at the beach or an amusement park. Dr. Hill’s cream and oil protects your skin from damaging oxidative stress that results from sun exposure. You can also eat lots of cooked spinach to protect your skin from oxidative stress and drink carrot juice to protect your skin from burning. I have come across SO MANY people that have connected their vitiligo to a swimming pool, myself included, so be careful with that :).
Thanks for much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Let me know if you have any more questions. I am more than happy to try to help!
Hello T.J.
A member of my family has suffered from Vitiligo since 4 years old (Now 31). His white spots have been almost the same, however he would like to get rid off them. We have found out a new treatment, Melagenina Plus, which has been developed in a Cuban clinic and made with placenta. Have you ever heard about it?? Thank you very much for your blog and for the time you spend on it!!
Hi Maria!
Glad you are enjoying the blog.
Yes, I have heard of Melangenina, but I do not know if it works or not.
Hi Maria!
I am 32 and I have vitiligo since I was 7. I have tried with different treatments, but no one has result for me. Anyway, it is true that when I was 15 more or less, some white patches went, but then when I was 22 all of them and more return.
In that time when some white patches went, I was doing different treatments. I took homeopathy and I did melagenina treatment too. Also, I was with dermatology and she gave me some pills. So I don’t know what was the treatment that improve my vitiligo, but I don’t know why, I think that melagenina wasn’t it.
I haven’t try again with melangenina and in these last 2 years I have tried with macrobiotic diet and ginkgo biloba, but it hasn’t done any effect with me. I have tried with Dr. Hill treatment-cream and when I was applying this cream some freckles return. Then the cream ended and now I am waiting for more cream.
I hope you the best,
Ainara
Hello!
I am
So happy
To have found your page what did you use to repigment your hands? And how is it looking?
Hi Wendy!
My hands are slowly coming around…but the important thing is that they ARE repigmenting. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from my hands since hands and feet are said to be the hardest to repigment. But I have been pleasantly surprised. I will upload some new pics in the next few days. Thanks for visiting :)!
Hi. I am 28, Female, I have HYPERPIGMENTATION on my body but I recently developed a small fingertip size white patch on the back of my neck. The doctor said its hypopigmentation. But again at the same time my hyperpigmentation is fading and I am regaining my skin tone slowly. And my body feels itchy as if ants are biting, I try my 100% not to itch. Is there any way I can help to prevent or control that small patch from growing? As I belong to asian ethnicity & the society does not accept such skin diseases. I am married & hoping to take child somewhere next year. Please help with some mental support and guidance please. thanks.
Hi MH, I am sorry you are having so much trouble with your skin. If your skin is itching that much, I would look into food allergies…specifically gluten, dairy, soy, and corn…both of which seem to be the most problematic for those of us with vitiligo. Also make sure to eat lots of COOKED (not raw) green vegetables like spinach and greens, and consider taking vitamin D3, EPA DHA fish oil, B12 (methylcobaliamin, NOT Cyanocobalamin) and zinc (check with your doctor before taking any supplements).
I don’t live in a society that doesn’t accept my vitiligo, so I’m afraid I can’t give you much advice in that area. What I can tell you though, is that the more you stress about it spreading, the worse it will get. I know it’s hard, but you must find a way to reduce your stress and worry over it. Some suggestions are yoga and walking, since both of these activate the calming/healing part of the nervous system and can help you get control of your emotions. You can try the skin oils and cream I use to help stop the spread. Hope this helps, and take care!
Amazing!! Congratulations … you must be a very strong person and I am very happy for you. I would love to hear what you mostly eat, such as what is a typical breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Thanks Sonia!
I don’t know if it’s that I’m so strong…I think I am just EXTREMELY determined to overcome my vitiligo ;)! Thanks so much for your encouraging words and for always being so thoughtful and supportive. Yes, I would be more than happy to put together a typical day’s menu…I’ll get right on it, so look for it soon 🙂
I have had vitiligo for many years since a small child so 40 years.
I read that lotus essential oil can help boost melanogenisis
Has anyone tried this?
Hi Nuat!
I am getting excellent results with Dr. Wanakee Hill’s essential oil blend. I talk about it here http://realvitiligotreatment.com/my-current-vitiligo-treatment-plan/.