Localized White Patch: Exploring Effective Treatments for Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a localized white patch caused by the loss of skin pigment. It is more common in young adults but can also affect children. It is often caused by emotional stress, stagnation of liver qi, poor circulation of qi, and invasion of wind and dampness pathogens, which leads to imbalance of qi and blood and lack of nourishment to the skin. The clinical presentation includes sudden appearance of depigmented patches on the skin, which gradually enlarge and present as round or oval white spots of different sizes, either singular or multiple. There are usually no accompanying symptoms such as itching or pain. Treatment Method 1 Location: Xiàxià point (slightly above the junction of the outer side of the biceps brachii muscle, one-third from the top and one-third from the bottom). Method: Cupping therapy is used, leaving the cup in place for 10-15 minutes. Treatment is administered daily or every other day, with 5 treatments as one course. Treatment Method 2 Location: Affected area, Spleen Shu point, Zhongwan point. Method: The affected area is punctured with plum blossom needles, followed by cupping to induce local congestion and redness of the skin. Spleen Shu point and Zhongwan point are treated with simple cupping, leaving the cup in place for 15-20 minutes, followed by moxibustion with moxa sticks for 5-10 minutes. Treatment is administered once daily, with 5 treatments as one course. Treatment Method 3 Location: Affected area, Gwŏn-mo point, Zú Sān Lĭ, Sanyinjiao. Method: Medicinal cupping is used with a cotton ball soaked in medicinal wine (10g of Chuanxiong, Muxiang, Jingjie, 15g of Baijili, Danshen, Danggui, Chishao, 20g of Jixueteng, 30g of magnetite, soaked in 95% alcohol for 10 days, then 100ml of the liquid is extracted). The cotton ball is placed on the middle section of the cup, ignited, and applied to the above-mentioned acupoints, leaving the cup in place for 15-20 minutes. Treatment is administered once daily, with 10 consecutive cups for each acupoint. If the white spots are small, cupping can be applied directly to the affected area. If the spots are larger, cupping can be applied at the edges of the spots. If the spots are located in sensitive areas like the eyelids, cupping can be applied at a distance from the cavity. If the spots are located in areas with less muscle, a circle of flour can be used to surround the cupping area. After cupping, the affected area is treated with a topical herbal solution (equal parts of Honghua, Baijili, and Chuanxiong, soaked in 30% alcohol). Sun exposure is recommended as well. Excerpt from "Chinese Acupuncture" Treatment Method 4 Location: Affected area. Method: First, shallowly puncture the skin from the outside to the inside with a triangular needle, causing slight bleeding. Then, apply cupping for 20 minutes. Alternatively, apply Gu Bai Lotion (30g Bu Gu Zhi, 10g Honghua, and Baijili soaked in 95% or 30% alcohol for 7 days) to the skin before cupping, or apply it after cupping. Treatment is administered once daily or every other day, with 10 treatments as one course.