Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSun Care TipsSkin Care TipsHerbs and Supplements
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sun Care Tips
Skin Care Tips
Herbs and Supplements
While vitiligo, aninflammatory disorderthat causesskinto lose its pigment (color), isn’t harmful or life-threatening, it can be challenging to live with. Impacting physical appearance, this chronic, incurableskin pigmentation disordercan lower self-esteem, leading to feelings of social stigma and mental health challenges.If you have this condition, you’ll need to take concrete steps to protect your skin.
What does management of vitiligo entail? Along withmedical treatment, it may involve cosmetically treating affected areas of your skin, adopting certain skin-care routines, and preventing sun exposure.With a good plan in place, you can ease the severity and burden of vitiligo.
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Vitiligo arises when yourimmune systemmistakenly attacks and breaks downmelanocytes, the skin cells that add pigment to your skin.This causes patches of smooth, white skin to form. The patches may remain unchanged, grow and spread, or even migrate.
Among the biggest concerns with vitiligo is that the depigmented patches of skin are more susceptible to damage from the ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight.This makes them prone tosunburn, and, especially if you have fairer skin, tanning makes discolored areas more prominent.
Sun Exposure as a Form of TreatmentOne way to medically manage vitiligo is through targeted and directed sun exposure or exposure to UV rays, often referred to as light therapy or phototherapy.This is specialized narrow-band ultraviolet-B (NB-UVB) therapy completed under careful supervision in your doctor’s office over the course of multiple sessions. It’s unsafe to try to approximate its effect on your own.
Sun Exposure as a Form of Treatment
One way to medically manage vitiligo is through targeted and directed sun exposure or exposure to UV rays, often referred to as light therapy or phototherapy.This is specialized narrow-band ultraviolet-B (NB-UVB) therapy completed under careful supervision in your doctor’s office over the course of multiple sessions. It’s unsafe to try to approximate its effect on your own.
Protecting affected areas from direct sun exposure is a cornerstone of management. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), consistent, daily use of sunscreen is especially important. This involves:
In addition, there are several other steps to take when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun, including:
Other Tips for Skin Care
Protecting your skin from sunlight is a big part of caring for vitiligo, but there are also other actions you can take to ensure you’re getting the treatment you need to prevent the condition from getting worse.
If you have vitiligo, the AAD recommends the following steps to care for your skin and improve your appearance:
Herbs, Supplements, and Vitiligo
While more research is needed to confirm efficacy, there’s some evidence that herbs and vitamins can help. These supplements are thought to supplementlight therapy, one of the primary treatment options for the condition. Currently, researchers are looking at how well several work:
Take Care With SupplementsThe exact effectiveness of using herbal or vitamin supplements for vitiligo is unknown. Also, it’s important to note that what you take can interact with the medications you’re taking. Make sure to talk to your doctor before starting any new regimen.
Take Care With Supplements
The exact effectiveness of using herbal or vitamin supplements for vitiligo is unknown. Also, it’s important to note that what you take can interact with the medications you’re taking. Make sure to talk to your doctor before starting any new regimen.
A Word From Verywell
Though it’s rarely cured or reversed, vitiligo can certainly be managed, and its effects on your appearance minimized. Ultimately, living with this condition means making a dedicated effort to protect your skin from sun damage, keeping up with your health, and figuring out ways to help you feel comfortable and confident.
Managing vitiligo is an ongoing process. You may go through multiple therapies and require counseling and mental health support to cope with its long-term impact. At the core of this process is learning to live well with the condition and working on ways to accept or even embrace vitiligo as part of who you are.
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5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Vitiligo: types, symptoms, causes, treatment & recovery.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Vitiligo: tips for managing.Liu K.Vitiligo: more than skin deep. Harvard Health Publishing. September 26, 2019.Khanna U, Khandpur S.What Is New in Narrow-Band Ultraviolet-B Therapy for Vitiligo?.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10(3):234-243. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_310_18Guarneri F, Bertino L, Pioggia G, Casciaro M, Gangemi S.Therapies with antioxidant potential in psoriasis, vitiligo, and lichen planus.Antiox. 2021;10(7):1087. doi:10.3390/antiox10071087
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Vitiligo: types, symptoms, causes, treatment & recovery.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Vitiligo: tips for managing.Liu K.Vitiligo: more than skin deep. Harvard Health Publishing. September 26, 2019.Khanna U, Khandpur S.What Is New in Narrow-Band Ultraviolet-B Therapy for Vitiligo?.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10(3):234-243. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_310_18Guarneri F, Bertino L, Pioggia G, Casciaro M, Gangemi S.Therapies with antioxidant potential in psoriasis, vitiligo, and lichen planus.Antiox. 2021;10(7):1087. doi:10.3390/antiox10071087
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Vitiligo: types, symptoms, causes, treatment & recovery.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Vitiligo: tips for managing.Liu K.Vitiligo: more than skin deep. Harvard Health Publishing. September 26, 2019.Khanna U, Khandpur S.What Is New in Narrow-Band Ultraviolet-B Therapy for Vitiligo?.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10(3):234-243. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_310_18Guarneri F, Bertino L, Pioggia G, Casciaro M, Gangemi S.Therapies with antioxidant potential in psoriasis, vitiligo, and lichen planus.Antiox. 2021;10(7):1087. doi:10.3390/antiox10071087
Cleveland Clinic.Vitiligo: types, symptoms, causes, treatment & recovery.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Vitiligo: tips for managing.
Liu K.Vitiligo: more than skin deep. Harvard Health Publishing. September 26, 2019.
Khanna U, Khandpur S.What Is New in Narrow-Band Ultraviolet-B Therapy for Vitiligo?.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2019;10(3):234-243. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_310_18
Guarneri F, Bertino L, Pioggia G, Casciaro M, Gangemi S.Therapies with antioxidant potential in psoriasis, vitiligo, and lichen planus.Antiox. 2021;10(7):1087. doi:10.3390/antiox10071087
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