Posted by Saachi on March 27, 2014 at 8:49am in Main
I wanted some insight on other people's experiences/input about being someone with vitiligo and having kids. What's it like to have a kid that ends up having vitiligo? Is anyone else afraid of passing it on (even to second generation kids)?? How would your own kids react to you having vitiligo if they don't have it themselves? My questions are pretty much endless in this topic. I'm pretty young to be concerned about this, but I am, nonetheless.
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I'm a mom of 3 and I find myself back pedaling sometimes. I'm the only person in my family who has vitiligo. I don't want my kids to know how much it affects me. I feel like I've already done some damage by being so vain about it. They (with the exception of the youngest, she's 2)know i use self tanning products to mask it. Now if one of them gets it, they will think of it as "ugly" because I do everything I can to conceal my vit in public. I just try not to mention anything about it, but I feel like I won't be able to say "Hey, don't worry about it..." while I'm wearing long sleeves in 90 degree weather because I ran out of spray tan. I don't want my kids to know how vain I am period, but they live with me.
That is rough. I think that it's understandable though. If, god forbid, anything did ever happen where one of your kids got vitiligo, then I think that they would appreciate that you know how it feels.
I'm the only one in my family who has it and it's hard to suffer alone. In fact, that's the only reason I made this account. I was feeling down one day and I was tired of feeling like I was the only one with a problem of this magnitude, but that's neither here nor there.
Honestly, I wouldn't consider that vanity. I, personally, don't cover up my vitiligo, but I have tried before when I had small spots on my face. In the end, I just left it, but I can't say I would if my spots were more visible.
I've known people to lock themselves in a room and rarely exist because of their newfound vitiligo. Think of it this way: at least you're showing your kids that you might have some battle scars, but you're able to cover em up, dismiss them, and move on. That makes you a lot stronger than some.
Anyways, good luck :)
@ saachi and others - every parents always wants better for their children so of course no ones wants their child to suffer in any way. Auto immune disease run in families. Of course it would help if your partner doesn't have strong history of auto immune disease. But again no one knows what will happen in the future. Kids can inherit a multitude of more dangerous conditions like blood disorders, cancer, autism, etc. We can pray and hope for the best but no one knows about the future holds. Just be happy, eat well, spread awareness and push for more research.
Hey I'm 22, nowhere close to having kids but I think about the same questions too. Usually whenever a kid gets curious about my skin condition, I try to explain it to them how it is just a pigmentation defect and they no longer seem to be concerned about it. If you explain it to them once, they won't bother you again and again. If you're good to them, they'll be good to you regardless of your skin color. It has worked for me most of the times.
I sometimes wonder if It'll pass to my next generation, but then again worrying about 'what if' isn't the solution'.
And Like my friends said in the earlier posts, don't let it define you :)
Hi, I am a mother of 3 girls. Until 1 year ago I did not even know what Vitiligo was. Now I have TWO daughters that have it! They are 9 and 10 years old. Why? The only thing I can think of is I have Graves Disease (thyroid) which was active while pregnant with them, but still Vitiligo came out of the blue. Maybe one distant ancestor had it?
As to how kids react to how you look, I would not worry about it. My father had a huge dent in the middle of his forehead (war wound), and it never bothered us as kids, and it never stopped him from enjoying his life and family.
As a mother I am very upset my girls have this -- it is on their faces. It makes me cry and I wish I had it instead! But I will try my best to teach them they only have one life and to LIVE it! If they can be comfortable with their spots, so will everyone else. That is how it was with my father and his forehead; he was happy to be alive and got on with it.
Hi Sonia
I am a mam of 10 y daughter too she got vitiligo year ago same like you before this I never know what it was n but I noticed that the spots that was treated quickly restore thier color quickly protopic give good results on face . Vitiligo can be treated but it need time and effort I meet many ppl that got it and got recovered . Hope too for my daughter , yours , Saachi and every 1 who got it
I'm really sorry to hear that, but your determination is admirable. I hope your daughters are okay.
Sometimes when my sister tells me about how concerned my mom is (my mom tries not to show it around me), it makes me feel like she's just as crushed about it as I am, which certainly says a lot.
Mine was pretty random in the sense that we have no family history of vitiligo. I have small things from my childhood that could be responsible, but it's so hard to say.
Being in the position of a daughter with vitiligo, I know how it is to give your mother a bit of a hard time because of it, but it's never anything intentionally personal. Anyways, good luck :)
we are dealing with vit for a year now. Does vitiligo always get worse? isn't there anything you can do keep the spots from increasing and stable. so far I have seen a progression. Its hard to think about what the future holds. its hard b/c no one thing helps everyone.
Replies
I'm the only one in my family who has it and it's hard to suffer alone. In fact, that's the only reason I made this account. I was feeling down one day and I was tired of feeling like I was the only one with a problem of this magnitude, but that's neither here nor there.
Honestly, I wouldn't consider that vanity. I, personally, don't cover up my vitiligo, but I have tried before when I had small spots on my face. In the end, I just left it, but I can't say I would if my spots were more visible.
I've known people to lock themselves in a room and rarely exist because of their newfound vitiligo. Think of it this way: at least you're showing your kids that you might have some battle scars, but you're able to cover em up, dismiss them, and move on. That makes you a lot stronger than some.
Anyways, good luck :)
@ saachi and others - every parents always wants better for their children so of course no ones wants their child to suffer in any way. Auto immune disease run in families. Of course it would help if your partner doesn't have strong history of auto immune disease. But again no one knows what will happen in the future. Kids can inherit a multitude of more dangerous conditions like blood disorders, cancer, autism, etc. We can pray and hope for the best but no one knows about the future holds. Just be happy, eat well, spread awareness and push for more research.
Hey I'm 22, nowhere close to having kids but I think about the same questions too.
Usually whenever a kid gets curious about my skin condition, I try to explain it to them how it is just a pigmentation defect and they no longer seem to be concerned about it. If you explain it to them once, they won't bother you again and again. If you're good to them, they'll be good to you regardless of your skin color. It has worked for me most of the times.
I sometimes wonder if It'll pass to my next generation, but then again worrying about 'what if' isn't the solution'.
And Like my friends said in the earlier posts, don't let it define you :)
Hi, I am a mother of 3 girls. Until 1 year ago I did not even know what Vitiligo was. Now I have TWO daughters that have it! They are 9 and 10 years old. Why? The only thing I can think of is I have Graves Disease (thyroid) which was active while pregnant with them, but still Vitiligo came out of the blue. Maybe one distant ancestor had it?
As to how kids react to how you look, I would not worry about it. My father had a huge dent in the middle of his forehead (war wound), and it never bothered us as kids, and it never stopped him from enjoying his life and family.
As a mother I am very upset my girls have this -- it is on their faces. It makes me cry and I wish I had it instead! But I will try my best to teach them they only have one life and to LIVE it! If they can be comfortable with their spots, so will everyone else. That is how it was with my father and his forehead; he was happy to be alive and got on with it.
I am a mam of 10 y daughter too she got vitiligo year ago same like you before this I never know what it was n but I noticed that the spots that was treated quickly restore thier color quickly protopic give good results on face . Vitiligo can be treated but it need time and effort I meet many ppl that got it and got recovered . Hope too for my daughter , yours , Saachi and every 1 who got it
Sometimes when my sister tells me about how concerned my mom is (my mom tries not to show it around me), it makes me feel like she's just as crushed about it as I am, which certainly says a lot.
Mine was pretty random in the sense that we have no family history of vitiligo. I have small things from my childhood that could be responsible, but it's so hard to say.
Being in the position of a daughter with vitiligo, I know how it is to give your mother a bit of a hard time because of it, but it's never anything intentionally personal. Anyways, good luck :)
we are dealing with vit for a year now. Does vitiligo always get worse? isn't there anything you can do keep the spots from increasing and stable. so far I have seen a progression. Its hard to think about what the future holds. its hard b/c no one thing helps everyone.
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