Can cannabis help vitiligo sufferers?

A reader asks: I have been plagued by Vitiligo on my hands since 2019. Never had any skin disorders or problems before that! They tell me it’s an autoimmune condition! [...] I was wondering if medicinal cannabis can help me in any way?

Dr. Lenny: I’m sorry to hear about your health challenges with Vitiligo. Cannabis could be a promising treatment for vitiligo, but let’s look at what causes it first.

Vitiligo is when pigment producing cells in the skin die. Pigmentation protects the skin from ultraviolet light and free radicals (cell damaging atoms).

Scientists know of at least three causes for vitiligo: the immune system, the endocrine (or hormone-producing) system, and lifestyle. Sometimes your immune system attacks and kills the pigment producing cells in the skin. Other times vitiligo is caused by stress, diet, and medications. It’s a pretty complex and unpredictable disease that can have many causes.

There’s promising news for vitiligo sufferers though. Scientists have found that dosing pigment producing cells with cannabinoids dramatically increased their pigment production. Cannabinoids directly turn on the pigment producing gene MITF!

So in theory, cannabis should kick start pigment production in the surviving pigment producing cells by activating the MITF gene. This would protect the skin from external stressors and prevent the spreading of vitiligo. It’s a positive feedback loop!

There’s also strong evidence that cannabis transforms free radicals into less harmful forms. This means cannabis might also help with vitiligo caused by free radicals.

(not those free radicals)

Treatments for vitiligo are inconsistent and can have harsh side-effects. Medicinal cannabis has the potential to help without negative side-effects. It may also reduce emotional stressors that can trigger vitiligo. However, because vitiligo is complex and has many causes, cannabinoids may not work for everyone.

My advice to you as a biomedical researcher (I’m not a medical doctor) is to discuss medicinal cannabis with your doctor or a clinic. We hope you find a treatment that works for you soon!

Send your questions on cannabis and plants, brains, biology, or medicine to Dr. Lenny at: [email protected].

DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is not financial or medical advice. It is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell anything or to make any financial decisions. Please do your own research and do not buy anything dodgy.