Fact Check: Can bamboo layer and coconut oil make vitiligo disappear in a few days?

The Instagram post claims that applying a mixture of white layer of bamboo and coconut oil makes vitiligo (white patches) disappear in a few days. The claim is False.

Claim

An Instagram post titled, "Safed Daag Ka Jad Se Ilaj Kare (Completely Cure White patches from the Root)". In the post user ai.doctor_sahab explained, "If there are children around you who have such white patches on their faces, they can be cured. All you need to do is scrape off the white powder found on bamboo sticks, mix this powder with coconut oil, and apply it to the spots and blemished areas. In a few days, the spots will disappear. And please share this video and follow me so that everyone can benefit from this." 

Here, white patches are medically referred to as vitiligo.

The post has 2,789,818 likes and can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim is False. Bamboo compounds and coconut oil may support skin health, but there is no evidence that mixture of white layer of bamboo and coconut oil can cure vitiligo. Proper diagnosis and medical treatment are essential for managing this condition effectively.

What is Vitiligo (White Patches)?

White patches, known medically as vitiligo is a skin condition where patches of skin lose their colour because the melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing pigment, are destroyed. This leads to smooth, chalky-white areas on the skin with well-defined edges that do not have any scaling. The causes of vitiligo are recognized as an autoimmune disease associated with metabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors. Vitiligo can take a serious toll on mental health and daily life, so it should not be dismissed as just a cosmetic issue or a minor condition.

Dr Shireen Furtado, Sr. Consultant - Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, explained the available treatment options for managing vitiligo to Medical Dialogues, she said, "The management of vitiligo includes treatments like topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors to reduce inflammation and promote repigmentation, phototherapy (NB-UVB) to stimulate melanocytes, and systemic therapies like immunosuppressants for advanced cases. Cosmetic options, such as skin camouflage, can provide immediate visual improvement. It is essential that each treatment regimen is customized to meet the unique requirements of the individual and the severity of their vitiligo, often necessitating a cooperative effort between the patient and healthcare professional to identify the most appropriate options."

What is White Powder over Bamboo Plants?

Bamboo is a large woody grass that belongs to the Poaceae family. This ancient plant is commonly found in tropical, subtropical, and mild temperate regions around the world. The main stem or stalk of grasses, known as the culm, often has internodes with a powdery white-waxy coating in many bamboo species. In species like Bambusa polymorpha and Dendrocalamus giganteus, this white-waxy bloom is typically spread across the culm internodes. This waxy layer is most noticeable on fresh culms but tends to fade on older culms that have been frequently exposed to rain.

The white powder found on the outer surface of young bamboo culms is used to isolate a crystalline compound with medicinal properties. Tabasheer, also known as Banslochan, is a well-known medicine derived from a siliceous secretion in the culms of certain bamboo species. It appears in fragments or masses up to 2 cm thick, and its texture is chalky, translucent, or transparent with no taste. Tabasheer is used as a cooling tonic, an aphrodisiac, and is helpful for asthma, cough, and other conditions.

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil, extracted from the kernel of mature coconuts from the coconut palm, is a popular cooking oil. It has demonstrated potential benefits, such as helping reduce waist circumference, boosting HDL cholesterol levels, and having antimicrobial effects through monolaurin. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) contains polyphenols and higher levels of vitamin E, offering possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Can applying a mixture of white layer of bamboo with coconut oil make vitiligo (white patches) disappear in a few days?

Tabasheer, which is a medicine extracted from white power over bamboo is used as a cooling tonic that is helpful for asthma, and cough. Similarly, coconut oil is recognized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus supporting the claim that applying a mixture of white powder over a bamboo stick and coconut oil will make vitiligo (white patches) disappear in a few days.

A study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology suggests that vitexin, a natural flavonoid found in bamboo, supports melanocyte production, which is crucial since the absence of melanocytes causes vitiligo. However, the study does not indicate any role of the white powder from bamboo in stimulating melanocyte generation.

A systematic review published in the Journal of Integrative Dermatology concluded that vitiligo lesions treated with the antioxidant cream, which included bamboo extract, demonstrated greater and faster repigmentation compared to those treated with the placebo. Yet again this study does not suggest any involvement of the white powder of bamboo in promoting repigmentation.

Additionally, no study has demonstrated the role of coconut oil in the treatment of vitiligo. A case report published in the International Journal of Health Sciences and Research mentioned the application of coconut oil on itchy areas of depigmented patches. These patches had turned reddish with mild itching and a burning sensation as a reaction to the prescribed treatments, which included purgative medicine, KABC, and KT for vitiligo. The study also highlights the secondary role of coconut oil in alleviating the adverse effects of vitiligo treatment but does not suggest any direct role of coconut oil in treating the condition itself.

All these studies have discussed the use of bamboo compounds, bamboo extracts, and coconut oil in the management of vitiligo. However, none have mentioned the role of the white powder from bamboo sticks, either individually or in combination with coconut oil, in treating vitiligo. Furthermore, there is no medical consensus or recommendation within the medical community supporting any topical application for managing vitiligo. Additionally, no treatment currently exists that can completely cure vitiligo.

Dr Shireen Furtado, Sr. Consultant - Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, told Medical Dialogues, "No, such remedies are not scientifically proven to cure vitiligo. Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition caused by the loss of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes), and no topical application can restore pigment within a few days. Effective treatments require time and medical guidance. While some alternative or anecdotal treatments may claim quick results, they often lack clinical evidence and may not be safe. It's essential to consult a dermatologist before trying any new remedy."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

While bamboo-based compounds and coconut oil may have certain properties beneficial for skin health, there is no evidence to support their use in curing vitiligo or making its patches dissapear. Vitiligo is a complex condition requiring proper medical diagnosis and treatment tailored to individual needs. It’s crucial to rely on professional advice and proven therapies rather than unverified remedies to manage the condition effectively. 

Hence, the claim applying a mixture of white layer of bamboo with coconut oil makes vitiligo (white patches) disappear in a few days is False.