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| - Last Updated on October 17, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
A Facebook post claims that you can treat vitiligo with a burnt honeycomb. We fact-checked and found that the claim is Mostly False. Vitiligo is a disease that occurs due to a lack of pigment in the skin, and any home-based external application can not treat it.
The Claim
A post on Facebook claims that you can treat vitiligo by applying burnt honey on your skin.
Fact Check
What is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which there is a loss of skin colour in the form of patches. In some cases, the size of these patches gets bigger with time. It occurs due to the lack or improper functioning of melanin (a pigment that gives skin its colour and is produced by the skin cells called melanocytes). This condition can be seen in people of all skin types but is more common in people with black or brown skin. This disease is not life-threatening; however, it can leave some psychological and social impact on some people.
How is vitiligo treated?
The treatment for vitiligo usually depends upon various factors, such as age, skin involvement, the progression of the disease, and its effect on your life. Various treatment modalities try to change the appearance of the skin by trying to restore its colour. However, a few treatment modalities are not permanent solutions and can’t always control their spread.
The doctor may recommend sunscreen, Vitamin D, skin camouflage options, steroids, etc. Other options for a dermatologist include medications, such as topical pimecrolimus or tacrolimus, phototherapy, skin grafts, depigmentation, laser, etc.
As we explore unconventional treatments for conditions like vitiligo, it’s important to also examine how sensory experiences, such as visual stimuli, can impact our understanding of health issues.
Can vitiligo be treated with a burnt honeycomb?
Not exactly. There is no medical evidence that proves that a person can treat vitiligo by using burnt honeycomb. However, there are some medical evidences of honey being used in treatment of vitiligo with various other adjuvants. But, these researches are limited to honey and not honeycomb. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which the body initiates a reaction in which the melanocytes get destroyed. As stated by the Cleveland Clinic, “There is no cure for vitiligo. The goal of medical treatment is to create a uniform skin tone by either restoring colour (repigmentation) or eliminating the remaining colour (depigmentation).”
Dermatologist Dr. Jyothy Kannangath shares her view by stating, “There is no scientific research to back up this claim. Vitiligo, a disorder of pigmentation, occurs when the melanin (pigment) producing cells are damaged by our body’s immune cells. It can occur at any age and can present in various ways. As it’s basically an internal problem, the treatment needs to address that. So just by using burnt honeycomb, we can’t expect the vitiligo to improve or get cured. Melanin production needs to be improved by oral medications like psoralens, and the disease activity needs to be controlled by immunosuppressants or immunomodulators.”
Although there is a study which indicates that the consumption of honey with boiled milk can be helpful, further research is needed to prove this.
Additionally, we could find a clinical trial that indicates that a person successfully treated with vitiligo with a formulation of sunlight exposure with the honeybee, Allium cepa (onion), and Avena sativa (oats). However, it indicates that further studies are needed to confirm the stimulation of melanocyte proliferative activity by the mentioned formulation.
Similarly, there has been a study which indicates that honey has been recognized for its anti-microbial and wound-healing properties and is now used for treating skin disorders. For example, Manuka honey is used for treating wound infections. Similarly, Kanuka honey from New Zealand was shown to have therapeutic value in rosacea treatment.
The search for natural remedies is common, much like the interest in at-home gender tests that promise quick answers without scientific backing.
However, these studies do not apply to burnt honeycombs.
THIP Media Take: There is no scientific evidence that proves that burnt honeycomb can treat vitiligo. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, and any external application won’t cure it. Various treatment modalities are available that try to restore the colour of the skin, application of burnt honeycomb isn’t one. Therefore, the claim stands false until proven otherwise.
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