Last Updated on 10th December 2022 by Caroline Haye
October 2018
“Vitiligo, you won’t control me!”
Part one of A Teenager’s Journey With Segmental Vitiligo (entitled Never Stop Fighting For Yourself) was an account of a teenage boy from the San Francisco Bay area whose diagnosis of segmental vitiligo started him on a three year quest for a cure. When his doctor gave him no hope of recovery, Srao (not his real name) sought a second opinion and was offered a comprehensive treatment plan involving numerous therapies. These included phototherapy, topical creams, dietary changes and much more… Even a change of lifestyle and mindset. Part two, below, continues his story up to the present day…
Alternative therapies
Supplements
In addition to the dietary changes mentioned in part 1, Srao’s journal also describes how nutritional supplements played a key role in boosting his health. The combination of vitamins and Ayurvedic plant-based supplements he used at various times during his recovery included…
- Psoralen (Bakuchi in Ayurveda): the same plant derivative used in PUVA treatment to sensitise the skin to UV light.
- Manjistha (Ayurvedic): derived from the roots of the rubia cordifolia plant and used for its blood purifying properties and to treat skin conditions like psoriasis.
- Ashwagandha: another plant-based remedy used to help reduce body stress and boost brain health.
- Neem: a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
- Vitamin D3, B12, Multi-Vitamins, Vitamin E etc. to address nutritional deficiencies.
- Alpha Lipoic Acid, another antioxidant used to reduce inflammation.
“Not only did these supplements play a role in my recovery from vitiligo”, he says, “but they also transformed my overall health into something it never was before. I had made weekly visits to my Ayurvedic doctor, Vaidyaji Priyanka, who is located in the Bay Area of California, where I was able to go through two kinds of treatments: acupuncture and marma therapy.
Acupuncture and marma therapy
“Acupuncture, the more well known therapy, involves placing small needles into the body in order to cleanse and detoxify it. As I went through this process multiple times a week it became normal for me. The average person might think sticking needles in your face would be insane and terrifying, but in my experience it was quite the opposite. I would sit on the same bed every time and would try to fall asleep while the treatment took its course.
“Marma therapy is a different kind of procedure… A special type of massage designed to remove blockages throughout the body, which gives physical and mental relaxation and strength to specific points known as marma points. I enjoyed this therapy. And it helped relieve the knots and soreness I had throughout my body, allowing me to feel much more relaxed and loose.
“Under the care of my aurvedic doctor Vaidyaji Priyanka , I had marma massages once or twice a week. And Amritha, the strong woman who performed this therapy, played a huge role, not just in my treatment, but in my life. She was a kind, caring, and selfless person who always bettered the lives of those around her. Sadly, she recently passed away. Amritha was one of the reasons I kept on fighting for my health because I knew I wasn’t only fighting for myself but for Amritha, Vaidyaji Priyanka, and my family who all wanted to see me return to my old happy and healthy self.”
Surgical vitiligo treatments
Three years of ongoing therapy, lasers, needles, diets, creams and doctor’s appointments would be more than enough for most people, never mind a boy in his mid teens. But there was more to come. The final phases of Srao’s treatment plan would involve two surgical procedures that are sometimes used in cases of stable vitiligo, particularly the segmental kind that Srao has… The first was to be a hair transplant. And the second skin blister grafting or, alternatively, MKTP (melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation). Undaunted by the prospect of these treatments, Srao decided to go ahead with the hair transplant and, after that, whichever other two techniques his doctors advised.
Transplantation of vitiligo hair
He had to see several hair transplant surgeons before he found one who would take on his case. He writes, “You have probably never heard of a hair transplant on a teenager before, I hadn’t either. Finding a surgeon who could see the difference between a child and adult in relation to this surgery was difficult. After a couple of failed visits to surgeons who either said they didn’t know how to handle it or did not understand the potential impact of it on the skin, we found Dr. Manu Gujrati from Parsa Mohebi Hair Restoration in Northern California.
“He knew exactly how to handle my case differently from his usual clients and was extremely sensitive to my needs. In October of 2020 I had my first hair transplant surgery with Dr. Gujrati. Even though the surgery would be long and tiresome I felt it would be worth it. The purpose of this was to surgically remove most of the white hairs throughout my head and replace the patches of white hair with healthy black hair.”
Result
The theory behind this procedure was that the transplanted black hairs would transfer pigment to the skin in those areas. And, although this did not happen quite according to plan, Srao’s dermatologist believes it has had a generally beneficial effect. While the transplanted hair has not yet re-pigmented the skin, simply removing the white hairs does seem to have stabilised it and preventing further pigment loss.
In fact, the ongoing improvement in Srao’s vitiligo (which he and his doctors believe to be the combined effect of all of his therapies) has been so excellent that it now looks unlikely that he will need to undergo either skin grafting or MKTP. As these photos show, his skin is now virtually fully healed and his doctors expect his re-pigmentation to be complete by the time he attends his next dermatology appointment.
A team effort
Reading through Srao’s journal, it is clear to me that he is an exceptionally mature and driven young man. His determination to cure his vitiligo has carried him through three challenging years. But it has also been a team effort because he has had the support of some outstanding individuals.
Firstly, his parents have spent countless hours learning about vitiligo on the internet and searching for treatment options. His ayurvedic physician Vaidyaji Priyanka provided personalised support throughout, finding ways to help his recovery naturally… Even supplying him with gluten free, sugar free, and vegan versions of the snacks he had loved before changing his eating habits (see Part 1). And, as mentioned, his marma therapist Amritha also played a crucial role in his recovery.
In addition to his alternative therapists and highly skilled hair surgeon, Srao has been extremely fortunate to have been under the care of two of the foremost vitiligo experts in the world, Dr Amit Pandya and Dr. John E. Harris. Not only did these specialists have the expertise to treat him, but they also demonstrated a real appreciation of why treating his vitiligo meant so much to him as an individual.
A new mindset
As a result of his combined therapies over the past three years, Srao has regained virtually all of his lost pigment. But this is not the only thing he has gained. He also has a completely new mindset. At the start he was focussed on his fear of what others would think of his vitiligo. But, once he shifted his attention away from negative thoughts onto improving his health and healing his skin, he became positively motivated to see the process through to the end.
And now his motivation has extended beyond himself. He now feels passionate about letting others know that it is possible to overcome vitiligo… If you are determined enough and get the right help. He sums his attitude up this way. “The process of healing has been so emotionally and physically draining, but well worth it. I want others to be able to see my experience and be able to look vitiligo in the eyes and say, ‘you won’t control me'”.
Notes:
For an update from Srao, go to Dr John Harris’ blog “Speaking of Vitiligo…”
Segmental vitiligo is a less common and more localised type than non-segmental or generalised vitiligo. And, although it is largely similar, there are differences in the way the two types develop and how they may respond to various treatments.
To preserve his privacy, I have not used Srao’s real name in this article.
Srao’s parents obtained prior permission from all his doctors for their names to be mentioned in this article.
Srao has requested that I include an email address for anyone who would like to get in touch with him. He is happy to answer questions and to help in any way he can. You can contact him at srao49029@gmail.com
