Vitiligo is a condition that can happen to anyone, no matter their age, gender, or skin color. Even though the exact cause isn’t fully understood, it seems to be linked to a mix of factors like your immune system, genetics, the environment, and stress.
The main sign of vitiligo is the loss of skin color, which often starts as small patches that can spread over time. While it’s more noticeable on darker skin, it affects people from all backgrounds. But in this article, we’re going to discuss how it feels living with this condition and possibly treatment for it.
How Do You Cope With Vitiligo?
Being diagnosed with vitiligo can change a person’s life for good. It’s even harder to slowly watch your body lose pigment. It could also be hard to accept if we’re being honest. But in order to live your best life with a condition like this that seriously affects your physical appearance, you need to practice self care. It makes the condition a bit easier to live with.
Self care could be anything that involves you prioritizing what makes you feel better. The first act of self care is supporting yourself emotionally. There are different ways you can do that like by joining a support group. The aim of this support group is to remind you that you’re not on this path alone, it helps you know where to go from there. There are other people diagnosed with vitiligo and they’ve found comfort in support groups like online or in-person forums, local support groups, and even organizations.
Another form of self care you can do is try to relieve stress, and take your mind off of overthinking. Typically for this, you can just do some of your hobbies or you can use stress management techniques like mediation and yoga. Sometimes, overthinking could get to you and in cases like this, you have to consider letting someone in. It could be your parents, friends, or even an expert like a therapist.
Furthermore, you have to prioritize skin care. While skincare could be a source of trauma for those who get vitiligo through using harsh and harmful skincare products, it’s still a self care step to consider. You don’t need to do too much, and keeping your skin hydrated is paramount. You can start off with a mild moisturizer and hydrating fragrance free products to avoid irritation.
Lastly, with all the pigment gone from a certain part of your body, it’s easier to become sensitive to the sun. You need to apply sunscreen with a high SPF number, wear clothes that protect you from the blazing sun, and avoid staying in the sun for too long.
How Do You Treat Vitiligo?
Unfortunately, there’s not a one-size-fit-all treatment for vitiligo. But there are definitely other options that can help you manage the condition well.
Topical medication: There are creams that are used for this condition to give the skin back some color. One of these medications is the topical corticosteroids which does a great job in reducing inflammation and still repigment the skin in some areas.
Light therapy: Another name for light therapy is phototherapy. This treatment uses ultraviolet light to try and return color or pigment to some areas of the skin.
Corticosteroids: This medication comes in creams and in tablets. But for this type, it is taken orally which is aimed at suppressing and sometimes stopping the spread of vitiligo. However, corticosteroids can have side effects if it is used for a long time.
Surgical procedures: In some cases, the white patches from vitiligo are stable and don’t spread for at least a year. When a situation like that occurs, skin grafting or tattooing can be an option. What these procedures involve is transplanting skin or pigments to the affected areas. But this option is something you should discuss with your doctor as it comes with its own side effects like scarring.
Camouflage makeup: This option is nonmedical and people seek solutions like this. This treatment option only works for the body. It involves using makeup or self tanning lotions to blend out the depigmented areas of the body. This option will cover the white patches on the skin and boost your confidence.
Conclusion
But you should keep in mind that each of these treatment options has its pros and cons. Getting either of these treatments isn’t something that you wake up one morning and decide on. You need to see a doctor who will walk you through what each of these treatment options entails.
Also some options like camouflage makeup is just a quick fix to this condition, if you’re looking for a more permanent solution, then the other treatment option is for you.
