Protection from the sun Sunburn is a severe risk if you have vitiligo. You must protect your skin from the sun and do not use sunbeds. When skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces a pigment called melanin to help protect it from ultraviolet (UV) light.
The appearance of the vitiligo should not prevent you from taking your seaside or mountain vacation. Sunbathing, however, is generally not the best way to spend your time. It is particularly important to avoid sun exposure from 10 am to 4 pm (especially children).
So it is still important to protect yourself from burning in the sun. And in addition to increasing the risk of skin cancer, it can make vitiligo worse!
Living with vitiligo
Be careful about exposing your skin in the sun. Your white patches are extra sensitive because the skin cells are dead. Other parts of your body may become sensitive to the sun with treatment. Sun exposure can increase the contrast between your skin colors.
Say Hello to Sunshine: Expose the affected areas to early morning sunlight i.e. just as soon as the sun rises as it consists of ultraviolet A-rays (320-400nm) which stimulate pigment-forming cells (melanin). However, ultraviolet rays are harmful when at their peak between 10 am to 4 pm.
Protect your skin from the sun.
A bad sunburn can worsen vitiligo. If you have a lighter skin tone, there's another advantage to protecting your skin from the sun. Without a tan, the lighter spots and patches are often less noticeable.
Studies suggest that vitamin D3 increases tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in vitro [12], which may lead to repigmentation in vitiligo skin lesions. Calcipotriol and tacalcitol, which are vitamin D analogs, are also known to induce repigmentation in patients with vitiligo [13,14].
It's possible that vitiligo may be triggered by particular events, such as: stressful events, such as childbirth. skin damage, such as severe sunburn or cuts (this is known as the Koebner response) hormonal changes to the body, such as puberty.
Phototherapy with narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB) has been shown to stop or slow the progression of active vitiligo. It might be more effective when used with corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors. You'll need therapy two to three times a week.
Some vitiligo prevention strategies—such as diet and taking vitamins—are focused on boosting the immune system. Protecting the skin from wounds and burns may also help to prevent white patches from spreading. Vitiligo treatment options may include light therapy, camouflage therapy, repigmentation therapy, or surgery.
This chronic skin disease does not affect life expectancy, but it can have a significant psychological impact. Vitiligo is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that affects the skin and mucous membranes.
Potential triggers include sunburn, exposure to certain chemicals, and trauma or injury to the skin, according to the article in F1000 Research. These triggers can also prompt vitiligo to spread in people who already have the condition.
Since vitiligo skin can burn more easily, it's important to protect your skin whenever you're outdoors. To do this, seek shade, wear protective clothing—including a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses—and apply sunscreen to all areas of the body not covered by clothing.
Vitiligo can also affect the hair, causing white or prematurely gray hair. Some people lose some of their eye color and see light spots on the colored part of an eye. Vitiligo can also develop inside your ear and may affect your hearing.
Many people with Vitiligo apply sunless tanners like this: first apply the sunless tanner only to the un-pigmented areas. Some of them use sunless tanning sprays or mousses and apply with a small artists brush, or foam paint brush, or cosmetic sponge. Then they do the same thing the next day.
Signs and symptoms of vitiligo include: Patches of skin or mucous membranes that lose color. These can appear white or lighter than your natural skin tone. Patches of hair on your body turn silver, gray or white.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease of the skin, which means that someone with vitiligo has an immune system that is malfunctioning in a small way. The normal role of the immune system is to protect you from infections and cancer.
In conclusion, the findings from this study indicate that vitiligo patients have high levels of perceived stress. In patients predisposed to vitiligo, metabolic and psychological stress might influence the onset and progression of vitiligo.
However, for many people with vitiligo, the white patches begin to appear before age 20, and can start in early childhood. Vitiligo seems to be more common in people who have a family history of the disorder or who have certain autoimmune diseases, including: Addison's disease. Pernicious anemia.
Vitiligo tends to spread slowly. Occasionally, it spreads quickly. If you're seeing new patches and spots on your skin frequently, your dermatologist may prescribe a medication like prednisone. This is corticosteroid medication that can help slow down the disease.
Vitamin C is not used and is contraindicated in treating vitiligo as it disrupts the melanin production pathways [21]. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that absorbs substances like calcium and magnesium.
One study suggests that a high-dose vitamin D therapy may be safe and effective in reducing vitiligo activity. Sixteen patients with mostly darker skin type were given 35,000 IU daily for six months, combined with restriction of dairy products and calcium-enriched foods, and minimum hydration of 2.5 L daily.
Still, some health care providers generally recommend that people with vitiligo avoid “inflammatory foods” — that is, foods or ingredients that can cause an inflammatory response. This includes alcohol.